These laws impose positive duties on all public bodies to eliminate discrimination and to promote race, disability and gender equality in everything that they do. In developing widening participation strategic assessments, institutions will need to have due regard to the positive duties contained in the statutory legislation concerning race, disability and gender and the discrimination legislation referring to sexual orientation, religion or belief and age”. (HEFCE 2009, paragraphs Furthermore, the new Equality Act (2010) requires public bodies to ensure that those groups with protected characteristics are treated equally and are not discriminated against. There are eight protected characteristics of people who use services: Disability Sex (gender) Gender reassignment Pregnancy and maternity Race Religion or belief Sexual orientation Age (over 18s only). Some of groups are already included in HEFCE targeting guidance, but not all. For example, disabled students are an established target group for widening participation. HEFCE’s Equality Scheme 2011-14 notes a provisional desire for socio-economic status (SES) to be considered as part of its Equality Scheme, (although this is not evident in the draft presented for consultation). The preparation of an institutional WPSA provides the opportunity for an institution to reflect on how they enable disabled students in particular, and others from Equality groups and with protected characteristics, to access and succeed in higher education and to ensure that they are complying with equality legislation and recruiting a high quality and diverse student body which is able to maximise its success in HE. This topic briefing: Describes the ways in which institutions are aligning equality with widening participation and discusses ways in which there could be greater alignment between these related but separate agendas Offers some reflective questions to assist HEIs to align widening participation and equality. 2. Overview of how Institutions are Aligning Widening Participation and Equality This section of the Briefing reviews how institutions are aligning and integrating widening participation and equality at the strategic and operational levels. It draws
These laws impose positive duties on all public bodies to eliminate discrimination and to promote race, disability and gender equality in everything that they do. In developing widening participation strategic assessments, institutions will need to have due regard to the positive duties contained in the statutory legislation concerning race, disability and gender and the discrimination legislation referring to sexual orientation, religion or belief and age”. (HEFCE 2009, paragraphs Furthermore, the new Equality Act (2010) requires public bodies to ensure that those groups with protected characteristics are treated equally and are not discriminated against. There are eight protected characteristics of people who use services: Disability Sex (gender) Gender reassignment Pregnancy and maternity Race Religion or belief Sexual orientation Age (over 18s only). Some of groups are already included in HEFCE targeting guidance, but not all. For example, disabled students are an established target group for widening participation. HEFCE’s Equality Scheme 2011-14 notes a provisional desire for socio-economic status (SES) to be considered as part of its Equality Scheme, (although this is not evident in the draft presented for consultation). The preparation of an institutional WPSA provides the opportunity for an institution to reflect on how they enable disabled students in particular, and others from Equality groups and with protected characteristics, to access and succeed in higher education and to ensure that they are complying with equality legislation and recruiting a high quality and diverse student body which is able to maximise its success in HE. This topic briefing: Describes the ways in which institutions are aligning equality with widening participation and discusses ways in which there could be greater alignment between these related but separate agendas Offers some reflective questions to assist HEIs to align widening participation and equality. 2. Overview of how Institutions are Aligning Widening Participation and Equality This section of the Briefing reviews how institutions are aligning and integrating widening participation and equality at the strategic and operational levels. It draws
aligning_wp_and_equality_briefing_0.docx