We are involved in a number of initiatives that relate to our 2007-2012 Diversity Strategy. Amongst the most recent are:
Governance and Equality Project
A project undertaken in 2009 by Cranfield University and jointly funded by Equality Challenge Unit and the Leadership Foundation has now been completed. The research involved a survey of governing bodies of UK universities to examine the part governors play in relation to equality and diversity. To read more and to download the report, follow the link to ECU’s website at http://www.ecu.ac.uk/publications/governing-bodies-equality-and-diversity-research-report-2009
In addition to Cranfield’s work, ECU has published a handbook for governors of higher education institutions. It includes sections on why equality and diversity matter in strategic planning, institutional culture, legal compliance, assurance and accountability, the specific responsibilities of governors and the diversity of governing bodies themselves. To download the report see
http://www.ecu.ac.uk/publications/governing-bodies-equality-and-diversity or to obtain a hard copy, email admin@ecu.ac.uk.
Diversity Champions
This group of VCs/Principals, drawn together by the Leadership Foundation to champion diversity issues in the sector, reconvened in 2007. It was agreed that some of the key benefits of this initiative are that leaders in higher education can encourage people to take equality and diversity seriously and that they can be alert to issues such as unrepresentative short-lists and bring people’s attention to them. The group, along with other interested VCs/Principals, will meet again at UUK’s 2009 Spring Conference.
Governors’ Seminar
The first Leadership Foundation seminar on equality for governors took place in May 2008. Chaired by Jim Foulds, Chair of Council, University of Bristol, this well-attended event has become a regular feature of the Governor Development Programme, with the next Equality and Diversity seminar taking place on 15 April 2010.
Diversity in Higher Education Leadership Project
A project is underway to map the literature pertaining to diversity in higher education with particular reference to leadership, governance and management. An expert group is guiding the project and comprises of: Emeritus Professor Len Barton, Professor Judith Glover, Professor Jacky Lumby, Professor Tariq Modood and Professor Mustafa Ozbilgin. The lead researcher is Dr Diane Bebbington. For more information see Diversity in Higher Education Leadership: Literature Review and Data Mapping.
BME Leaders Project
In this project we interviewed senior leaders from black and minority ethnic backgrounds who have attended Leadership Foundation programmes. We asked about their experiences of the programmes and factors that influenced their career paths. A summary of the findings will be published in a forthcoming issue of Engage.A summary of the findings was published in Engage 17.
Managing Age Diversity
This recent project, financed by Hefce’s LGM fund and led by Dr Simonetta Manfredi, Oxford Brookes University, has now been completed. The good practice guide and report resulting from this research on a hitherto underexplored aspect of diversity can be found here.
Gender Balance in Management: Scottish Higher and Further Education
This research, carried out by Dr Duncan McTavish and Dr Karen Miller, Centre for Public Policy and Management, Glasgow Caledonian University and funded by the Leadership Foundation examined issues underlying the gender imbalance in the further and higher education sectors in Scotland and their impact on women’s careers. The final report of the project is now available.
Conference Presentation
Professor Katharine Perera, member of the Leadership Foundation’s Diversity Advisory Forum, ran a highly successful workshop at Equality Challenge Unit’s 2008 ‘Evidence for Equality’ conference in Manchester. Her workshop ‘Getting behind the numbers – gender equality data in practice’, focused on analysing gender data usefully. Two aspects of gender statistics on academic staff were examined – open-ended and fixed-term contracts and progression through the academic grades. A summary of her presentation is available here.
Leading culturally diverse communities in higher education
The Leadership Foundation commissioned this new project in 2009. The research is being undertaken by a senior team at the University of Salford including Professor Martin Hall, Vice-Chancellor and Professor Ghassan Aouad, Pro-Vice-Chancellor. It will seek to find out how higher education institutions can develop appropriate policies and cultures to successfully engage with culturally diverse communities internally and externally. The project will include the development of a tool whereby universities can analyse their current position in relation to engaging with diverse communities. For further information please contact Nicola Sayers, Research Manager on 020 7849 6916 or at Nicola.sayers@lfhe.ac.uk.
Ethnicity, gender and degree attainment
The Leadership Foundation is a member of the recently convened Ethnicity and Degree Attainment Working Group chaired by GuildHE. One of the main aims of the group will be to provide strategic oversight of work being undertaken in the sector to address differential attainment levels. Research undertaken by the DfES showed that even after controlling for the majority of contributory factors, being from a minority ethnic group had a statistically significant effect on degree attainment. This prompted a study funded by ECU and the Higher Education Academy (HEA) looking at causal factors behind this trend. While no one particular cause was found, the report set out recommendations for HEIs, government and other sector agencies.
For the DfES report, see: http://publications.dcsf.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=RW92&
For the ECU/HEA report, see: http://www.ecu.ac.uk/publications/files/ethnicity-gender-and-degree-attainment-project-final-report.pdf/view
For a discussion of the implications of these studies for leadership see Saheema Rawat’s article in Engage 14: http://www.lfhe.ac.uk/publications/newsletters.html/
For further information on the above or any other aspect of our Diversity Strategy, please contact: Dr Diane Bebbington or call 020 8540 0647.