Equality and diversity
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity within the staff and student bodies in higher education (HE). This commitment underpins all of our strategic aims.
We aim to ensure that by 2010-11 the HE workforce will have increased proportions of female staff, disabled staff and staff from minority ethnic groups in senior positions.
Our equality scheme explains how we meet our statutory duties to promote race, disability and gender equality, and our commitment to equality and diversity is supported by work in the following areas:
- Equal opportunities research programme
- Equal opportunities monitoring
- Publications on equality and diversity
Equality Challenge Unit
We work in partnership with the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) across all these areas. The ECU supports the higher education sector to realise the potential of all staff and students, whatever their race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion and belief, or age.
ECU evaluation
In January 2009 PricewaterhouseCoopers was commissioned to undertake an independent evaluation of the ECU. This assessed how well it is meeting its aims and objectives, and whether the current funding model is appropriate for the sector.
Based on this evaluation's findings we have now decided to continue funding for the ECU, while taking in account the evaluation's recommendations.
The 2009 review found that the Unit:
- is highly regarded
- has raised the profile of equality and diversity in the sector according to 81 per cent stakeholders
- has created a positive relationship with the sector and built a strong reputation by implementing its strategic plan
- is recognised for the high level of complex thinking it does on behalf of the sector on tensions between various strands of legislation (for example, religion and belief, and sexual orientation), and producing relevant, high-quality and timely guidance.
The report recommends that the Unit should develop a new three-year strategy taking into account:
- mainstreaming
- positioning
- future needs of the sector
- outcome-based key performance indicators
- continued close working partnerships with sector bodies and representative groups.
In light of the review, we will continue funding for a further five years on the existing model, and another review will take place in 2013.
In carrying out this evaluation of the ECU, we have formally assessed its impact on the HE sector in terms of regulatory burden, equality and diversity, and sustainable development.
Sector impact assessment: Review of the Equality Challenge Unit
[ Download Sector impact assessment: Review of the Equality Challenge Unit as Adobe PDF 57K | Download Sector impact assessment: Review of the Equality Challenge Unit as MS Word 108K ]
Involving disabled people
We are committed to ensuring that the voices of disabled people are heard in all areas of HEFCE policy making. For this reason we have issued an invitation to participate in the policy making process.
For further information contact Fariba Dashtgard, e-mail f.dashtgard@hefce.ac.uk, tel 0117 931 7316.
Last updated 23 February 2010