Review of ECU highlights its value for the HE sector in difficult economic climate

A review of the higher education equality body, Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) today confirmed the organisation's positive impact on the sector. Following the review, commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), it has been announced that ECU is to be funded for a further five years - until 2015.

The review, carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers, found that ECU plays a major role in reducing the regulatory burden on institutions and assisting the sector to comply with anti-discrimination legislation. This role will be all the more relevant as higher education institutions negotiate the proposed requirements of the Equality Bill. ECU was found to provide value for money and an efficient shared service for institutions seeking to access diversity and equality resources.

Sue Cavanagh, Deputy Chief Executive of Equality Challenge Unit, said:

'This is a challenging time for the sector. Rising student expectations, an increased focus on delivering a positive working culture for staff and a new research evaluation framework are just a few of the challenges that face higher education institutions at a time when significant funding pressures are starting to take effect.'

'ECU will continue to provide a high-quality service for institutions, engaging with managers and staff working across the institution - HR practitioners, the people providing front-line student welfare services, those dealing with recruitment and admissions, or planning new building design, for example - to ensure that there is practical support for equality at every level.'

A wide range of stakeholders, including Vice-Chancellors, heads of Human Resources departments and equality practitioners were canvassed as part of the review. ECU was praised for raising the profile of equality and diversity in the higher education sector, producing relevant high quality and timely guidance and for a high level of complex thinking on behalf of the sector, for example around tensions between equality characteristics.

Commenting on the decision to continue funding for the equality body, Sir Alan Langlands, Chief Executive of HEFCE, said:

'We are pleased to continue our support for ECU which has successfully helped universities and colleges raise the profile of equality and diversity. These issues are increasingly important from the perspectives of new equality legislation and realising the potential of all staff and students regardless of their background.'

The news has been welcomed by organisations across the higher education sector, many of which have been involved in ECU's work to promote equality for all staff and students in higher education.

Jocelyn Prudence, Chief Executive of Universities and Colleges Employers Association said:

'UCEA greatly values our collaborative relationship with ECU on a number of key projects and we look forward to continuing to work alongside them and other sector bodies in advancing equality for all staff and students in HE.'