Involvement, engaging with experts and key stakeholders

Throughout the policy-making process we use a range of consultative methods. In particular our Involving Disabled People Group seeks to involve people with disabilities and those with knowledge and expertise about disability in the higher education (HE) sector.

In future we plan to engage with people with other protected characteristics in our policy processes. We recognise that this is a challenge and will require our engagement process to be as accessible as possible to the lay person. Possible options include:

extending the current group to include people in (or with substantial knowledge of) one or more of the protected characteristics
engaging existing networks with equality expertise as and when appropriate (for example, if a particular policy is likely to impact disproportionately upon any particular characteristic).

The key stakeholders who use HEFCE’s services are of vital importance in helping us review our approach to equality and diversity. We will continue to seek opportunities to engage with our key stakeholders as appropriate. We proactively engage with institutions, ensuring that equality and diversity is discussed at institutional visits and included in Annual Monitoring Statements.

Alongside the other UK funding bodies, we work in partnership with the ECU which undertakes research and provides advice and briefing to the sector.

Involving disabled people in HEFCE's work

Deputy Chief Executive, Steve Egan, talks about involving disabled people and the launch of our work in this area.

The individuals who agree to participate form a group of contacts with whom we consult in the development and implementation of policies. Their involvement ranges from giving feedback to consultations, contributing to the 'impact assessment' of policies, to sitting on a project steering group.

Participants comprise: