Tackling the underrepresentation of disabled staff and students in universities and colleges

David Ruebain, chief executive, Equality Challenge Unit

@EqualityinHE | @ECUDavid_CEO

Equality Challenge Unit

Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) works to advance equality and diversity for staff and students in universities and colleges.

How?

= Qualitative and quantitative research= Information, advice and guidance= Sharing good practice= Events, conferences and seminars= Equality charters – Athena SWAN and Race Equality= Advice line and e-newsletter= Training, consultancy and bespoke services= In UK and overseas, and in other sectors

Rationale for diversity: staff

= Fair treatment and releasing potential

=Attracting the best talent domestically and globally

= Increasing staff satisfaction and engagement

=Greater diversity of thinking

Rationale for diversity: students

=Widening access and releasing potential

=Attracting students domestically and globally

= Increasing satisfaction with student experience

=Modernising delivery of the curriculum

Disclosure of staff disability

Disclosure of student disability

Supporting disabled staff

Supporting disabled students

Supporting disabled students

Policies and practices to support disabled staff and studentsEncouraging institutions to provide support and adjustments to remove barriers to full access and success, including:= Physical, eg improving the design of the built and

sensory environment= Procedural, eg making course delivery accessible = Social, eg overcoming negative conscious or unconscious

attitudes

Policies and practices to support disabled staff and students= Consulting and involving disabled staff and students= Encouraging, collecting and using equality data= Increasing disclosure and support for disabled students=Understanding, monitoring and evaluating competence

standards and reasonable adjustments = Promoting inclusive teaching and resources, including

embedding accessibility in course validation= Peer mentoring and training on supporting and enabling

disabled staff and students

Further information

Websitewww.ecu.ac.uk

EmailDavid.Ruebain@ecu.ac.uk