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Overview

   Equality and diversity should not be something institutions 'do' but the way they do everything.

Bettina Rigg, Lay governor, University of Exeter.

Introduction

As a governor, your responsibilities are to:

  1. Provide oversight of the institution’s direction and performance
  2. Seek assurance that agreed policies are being successfully implemented and the institution complies with the legal and regulatory requirements placed on it.

Equality and diversity (E&D) are integral to both of these responsibilities.

This toolkit is designed to help you assess whether your institution is using E&D to strengthen its distinctiveness, as well as meeting its legal and regulatory obligations.

Defining the terms

  • Diversity: Recognises that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected and valued (ECU)
  • Equality: ‘Equality is a fundamental part of a fair society in which everyone can have the best possible chance to succeed in life.’ (Discrimination Law Review, 2007)

Key areas of attention for governors

  1. Overseeing compliance
  2. Using E&D for competitive advantage
  3. Specific E&D issues and challenges facing higher education institutions
  4. The value of having a diverse governing body

 Supporting materials

  5. Checklist of questions

  6. Additional resources

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          1. Benefits - Case Studies
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          1. Resources
          2. Making the case
          3. Size and scope
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          7. Selection and assessment: examples
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        4. Case Studies
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      2. What is governance?
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        1. Academic governance and quality
        2. Compliance and regulation
        3. Commercial operations
        4. International students and developments
        5. Risk management
        6. Students
        7. Strategic plans
        8. Monitoring performance
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        1. Alternative providers and student debt in the US: could it happen in the UK?
        2. Is institutional autonomy under threat?
        3. Managing the board
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        5. Five issues for HEI governing bodies
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        15. Volkswagen
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        17. Review of governance at Plymouth University
        18. Equality and diversity and governing bodies
        19. A Changing Agenda
        20. Role and effectiveness of audit committees
        21. Governance of Scottish Higher Education Institutions: Consulative Paper on HE Bill
        22. Governance issues at Tesco
        23. Student visas
        24. Governance at the Co-op
        25. HE funding - IFS report
        26. Removal of student number control
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        28. Governance at the BBC
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        33. Increasing diversity
        34. Kids Company
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          2. NAO Investigation into Kids Company
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      11. Roundtable notes
    5. Governance Briefing Notes
      1. 25. The factors that influence whether governance is effective?
      2. 24. Benefits and impact
      3. 23. Competitive pressures
      4. 22. Corporate ethics and values
      5. 21. Personal ethics and values
      6. 20. Legal requirements and regulation
      7. 19. Estates
      8. 18. Finance
      9. 17. Employment
      10. 16. Remuneration
      11. 15. Nominations committee
      12. 14. Audit committee
      13. 13. The governance system and assessing effectiveness
      14. 12. Size, composition and skills available to the governing body
      15. 11. Monitoring performance
      16. 10. Strategic plan
      17. 09. Students
      18. 08. Risk management
      19. 07. International students and collaborations
      20. 06. Commercial operations
      21. 05. Regulations and compliance
      22. 04. Academic governance and quality
      23. 03. The workings of a governing body
      24. 02. Governance and management
      25. 01. Becoming a governor
    6. Governor Dialogues
    7. Equality and Diversity Toolkit
      1. Overview
      2. Overseeing compliance
        1. The Equality Act 2010
        2. Governance Codes
        3. Overseeing E&D
        4. Reports Governors might use
        5. Case study: Bath
        6. Championing E&D
        7. Case study: ManMet
        8. Case study: Cardiff
      3. Competitive Advantage
        1. Competing in a global market
        2. Improving staff diversity
        3. Case study: Exeter
      4. Issues and Challenges
        1. Student inequalities
        2. Staff inequalities
        3. Assessing specific E&D issues
      5. Value
        1. Increasing focus
        2. Gender diversity data
        3. Improving diversity
        4. Case study 1: UWS
        5. Case study 2: UWS
      6. Questions and Resources
        1. Resources
    8. Self-Assessment Tool
    9. Governing Body Effectiveness
    10. Governance 2020 Survey
  6. International
    1. International Engagement
    2. International Reference Group
    3. International Case Studies
  7. Membership
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      1. Membership logos
        1. Download the membership logos
    2. How to join
    3. National and regional contacts
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      2. Gary Reed
      3. Jean Chandler
      4. Judy Harris
      5. Maeve Lankford
      6. Meriel Box
      7. Rebecca Bull
    4. Membership advisory group
    5. Membership development support
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      1. Download MDR1: Managing Effective Performance
      2. Download MDR2: Managing Change in HE
      3. Download MDR3: Emotional Intelligence, Personal Impact and Personal Effectiveness
      4. Download MDR4: Lean Management: Doing more with less
      5. Download MDR5: The Current HE Context: Drivers for change
      6. Download MDR6: Commercial Skills for Academics and Researchers
      7. MDR7: Caught in the Middle
        1. MDR7 Contents
        2. Download MDR7: Caught in the Middle
      8. Download MDR8: Working with Academic Motivation and Prestige
    7. Knowledge Bank
    8. Membership community
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      1. MASHEIN Members
    10. Ten great reasons to be a Leadership Foundation member
      1. #10GreatReasons1
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      10. #10GreatReasons10

The Equality and Diversity Toolkit was created in partnership with the Equality Challenge Unit

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