EDI Update (May 2024)

Dear colleague

I am writing to update you on the University’s progress on matters relating to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

We all have a role to play in creating an inclusive culture and in recent years we have set good foundations, as well as building upon them to achieve further cultural change.

Last month, the University Executive and Council approved the updated Strategic Equality Plan 2024-2028. Thanks to staff and students who supported and contributed to its development and future priority actions.

The new EDI Strategic Oversight Group will bring a whole community approach to monitoring EDI activity in the University and assessing the impact of changes, our progress in priority areas and future plans. Staff groups and networks now have a formal reporting route to raise concerns and propose projects.

In November, the University achieved an Athena Swan Charter Bronze Award. I am very grateful to the University Athena Swan Self-Assessment team for all its hard work. It is an important development that includes the commitment and immediate implementation of a five-year action plan to progress our gender equality work.

We are committed to tackling racism and to being actively anti-racist and we are rightly proud of the part we will play in the Welsh Government’s vision of making Wales an anti-racist nation. Our Race Action Plan 2022-25 has been followed with new initiatives such as an anti-racism e-learning course for all staff, Bystander Intervention and Cultural Awareness training and pilot projects to diversify the curriculum in the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences and Department of International Politics.

The recently formed Race Action Group and accompanying student and staff-led working groups are leading the University’s self-assessment and preparation of an application for a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in November 2024.

During the year we successfully renewed our Disability Confident Employer status and renewed the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index Bronze Award.

To celebrate the diversity of our community we have worked in partnership with Aberystwyth University’s Students Union, Undeb Aberystwyth, and held events and activities during Black History Month, LGBT History Month, International Women’s Day, University Mental Health Day, Neurodiversity Week, Diwali and Ramadan. Please get involved in future events and staff networks. and if you have an event that you would like to celebrate, we want to hear from you.

Other achievements during the year include:

Female staff enrolling on the AdvanceHE Aurora leadership development initiative.
Regular meetings of Equality Champions Network, LGBT staff network, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff network, Menopause Support Group and the Women in Research Network.
Department of Computer Science applying to renew its Departmental Athena Swan Bronze Award.
University campuses now have designated, private Breastfeeding and Expressing spaces.
A new Report and Support tool where staff and students can report issues such as bullying, discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct.
Started reviewing Faith and Spirituality provision and access on campus alongside the local community.
Making progress in becoming a university informed about trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
Holding a Race Equality Survey for staff and students and adopting a guide to race-related terminology.
The ‘Helo Periods’ campaign in partnership with Students Union to provide free access to period products across all our campuses.
Undertaking an external EDI audit on HR-related policies and processes.
Starting the review of our equality impact assessment process.
Publishing the Annual Equality Report 2022-2023 and the Gender Pay Gap Report 2023.

If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact me directly or our Diversity and Inclusion Manager, Dylan Jones dej20@aber.ac.uk.

Best wishes

Professor Neil Glasser
Pro-Vice Chancellor with responsibility for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
nfg@aber.ac.uk