► Equality & Diversity

This area looks at how we ensure that students are treated equally and that we attract to a diverse range of students. For example, ensuring that the University and ourselves recognise each individuals values and fairly promote each of their strengths.

For 2010-11 we have chosen to focus on a policy of Equality Monitoring within this zone.

Equality Monitoring Policy

Background

The Equality Act 2010 has now been brought in to consolidate substantial pre-existing anti-discrimination legislation into one Act of Parliament, and to introduce some new provisions in order to further combat unlawful discrimination. The protected characteristics on which protection from discrimination is afforded includes age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sex, sexual orientation. There is also the requirement to not only tackle discrimination but to actively promote diversity. Equality monitoring is the process of gathering and analysing data on these, and other relevant, characteristics in order to recognise our diversity, assess our services and respond appropriately.

The University currently takes a pragmatic approach to equality monitoring, and their current staff equality monitoring form needs to be updated. There is the potential to recognise the diversity of staff and students to enable every individual to derive maximum benefit and enjoyment from their involvement in the life of the University. However, at present we have no ideas or data to back us up or cross reference to. We have a diverse membership and need to be able to adapt to their needs, being able to target or create policies for certain groups.

What we believe

The reason we want to raise the issue of developing E.M. is because for a range of our diverse membership we do not know if their personal characteristics affect their student experience. This should help provide us with evidence to lobby for an improved student experience.

We believe that the University should monitor the make-up of its student population to enable it to respond accordingly.

We have a diverse student body and their student experience should be catered for them as individuals. This would provide the opportunity to manage diversity within the student experience, not merely assimilating into ‘traditional’ students.

We believe that effective student and staff monitoring will help us improve, measure change and identify issues that affect students and staff.
Whilst we strongly believe in campaigning on a range of E & D issues around under-represented groups, it is important that we receive empirical evidence to enable us to be more successful in future and the University responds appropriately.

Why

To encourage the University to commit to ensuring that student and staff recruitment, retention and development reflect the principle of equal access.

To ensure the University develops inclusive teaching strategies, quality impact for the curriculum, consultation with students, works with the Guild in consultation with a representative(s), a diverse range of students and external bodies with celebrated best practice.

Will help to deliver the following benefits:

- Meeting legal requirements
- Commitment – offers the opportunity to renew commitment to equal opportunities and communicate to students and staff about the purpose of equality and diversity monitoring.
- Inform – information collected can be used to inform judgements about the operation of practices and procedures.
- Monitoring – to measure performance and improvements, and identify issues affecting students and staff.
- Consistency – aim to assure students and staff of the same level of confidentiality and protection under the Data Protection Act.

What we will do

The Guild should lead by example by monitoring staff on recruitment (including student staff, officer elections, volunteers, society members, etc.

Make several such reports to E & D Committee that the University:

a) Monitor on recruitment and on exit (students) at a minimum all protected characteristics.
b) Include all those that are specific as students.

Contact Us

What do you think about this policy?

The Guild

Hello and welcome to Liverpool Guild of Students!

As a University of Liverpool student, you are automatically one of over 17000 members of the Guild. We are run by 4 elected students, who are supported by staff and volunteers.

The Guild aims to make students lives better, through campaigning with you to make positive change and providing you with a huge range of opportunities to meet other people, gain new skills and have fun.