Mainstreaming: Equality at the heart of higher education Learning Set Day 1 29 June 2011 BSV Associates Ltd

2 Background Equality Act 2010 General duty from 5 April 2011 Requirement to give: 'due regard' to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations Specific duties – later 2011

BSV Associates Ltd 3 The Mainstreaming Programme ECU supporting HE institutions in Scotland to deliver public duty under the Equality Act 2010 Programme developed in consultation with the Scottish Liaison Group Research, trial and develop sets of tools that work to mainstream equality into the core processes of institutions

BSV Associates Ltd 4 The Mainstreaming Programme Core HEI processes for mainstreaming: Governance and senior management Staff development Student support services

BSV Associates Ltd 5 Overview of the day Objectives: Refine the vision and focus for mainstreaming initiative Select appropriate tools and approaches Create a planning document

BSV Associates Ltd 6 Overview of the day Practical Outcomes: Getting to know each other Getting to know the tools Understanding what mainstreaming means for us A tangible plan of action

BSV Associates Ltd 7 Mainstreaming Tools Analytic  use of information / research evidence  monitoring and evaluation Educational  raising awareness  delivery of training  professional development opportunities Engagement  participative consultation  facilitating participation in policy making

BSV Associates Ltd 8 Case Study Enhancing the LTA experience of disabled students Analytic Tools: Qualitative and quantitative research provided: -a robust evidence base -identified the baseline -demonstrated need -ongoing monitoring data Equality Surveys and Focus Groups - engaged with staff and students -inclusive approach -robust qualitative evidence of need for change

BSV Associates Ltd 9 Case Study Enhancing the LTA experience of disabled students Analytic Tools: Strategy review and development: -policy for inclusive assessment as integral part of LTA strategy -embedded in Quality Enhancement strategy Review of processes: -revision of specification templates -improved guidance for academic staff

BSV Associates Ltd 10 Case Study Enhancing the LTA experience of disabled students Educational Tools: Training and development: -inclusive assessment embedded in staff development programmes -integration into Quality Enhancement Strategy Guidance materials: -improved guidance for academic staff

BSV Associates Ltd 11 Case Study Enhancing the LTA experience of disabled students Engagement Tools: Working group: -pan University project working group engaged in open debate to understand and analyse concept of inclusion and the process of change needed Advocates: -members of the project team became champions for change across the institution

BSV Associates Ltd 12 Case Study Enhancing the LTA experience of disabled students Engagement Tools: Facilitating dialogue: -honest and open debate instigated through the project team Promoting effective practice: -engagement of academic staff through the development of continuing empirical research and academic scholarship

BSV Associates Ltd 13 Finding examples … In pairs: Discuss an initiative you have been involved in / are aware of Identify which category of tool(s) it uses What were the outcomes?

BSV Associates Ltd 14 Getting to know the tools … Privileged Identity Exploration

PrivilegedMarginalised MaleFemale WhiteNon-white HeterosexualHomosexual/bisexual Able bodiedDisabled “traditional students”“non-traditional students” “us”“them” “normal”“other”

BSV Associates Ltd 16 Change is Challenging … If we need to change there is something wrong If we have to change, I am complicit in a system that is wrong I’m not wrong!

BSV Associates Ltd 17 Defences Denial Deflection Rationalisation Intellectualisation Principium False Envy Benevolence Minimisation

BSV Associates Ltd 18 Activity In your institutional teams: Have you noted any of these defences being used in your own institution? What is or could be the impact? How could this be addressed?

BSV Associates Ltd 19 Understanding Mainstreaming What do we mean by ‘mainstreaming’? Is equality and diversity already mainstreamed within our institutions? What are the drivers for mainstreaming?

BSV Associates Ltd 20 Understanding Mainstreaming Multi faceted Contextual No one solution “If you can only deal with yolks or whites, it’s pretty hard to make an omelette” G Pennington (2006)

BSV Associates Ltd 21 A process of change Institutiona l Culture Policy / Procedure Mission / Strategy Practice

BSV Associates Ltd 22 Key features of successful change Vision A holistic approach Action and institutional and individual level Challenge dominant ideologies “It’s not about doing different things, rather it involves doing things differently” May & Bridger (2010)

BSV Associates Ltd 23 Key features of successful change Strategic approach Senior management buy-in and support Promote an understanding of why change is needed Understand impact of change on staff, students and other stakeholders Ensure participation and meaningful consultation

BSV Associates Ltd 24 Using the tools Most effective when used as part of a plan or framework for action Different tools work in different contexts and can be tailored Understand the tools - their origins and their purpose “Tools will only be useful if there is an understanding of wider contexts of aims, objectives, structures and the like” Mackay & Bilton (2003)

BSV Associates Ltd 25 Developing a plan for mainstreaming Importance of context - Starting point - History - Vision Multi pronged approach Evidence base Institutional and individual levels of action to achieve change / mainstreaming

BSV Associates Ltd 26 Learning set activity Share team ‘vision’ for each initiative: - what you want to change -what you want to achieve -how things will look as a result As a learning set, discuss: - is the initiative ambitious enough? -will it create an impetus for change? -what are the likely short, medium and long term impacts?

BSV Associates Ltd 27 Team activity Consider learning set discussions  is the initiative ambitious enough?  will it create an impetus for change?  what are the likely short, medium and long term impacts? Refine your ‘vision’  Share ideas about which tools/approaches will be most effective for each initiative and how they can be employed

BSV Associates Ltd 28 Learning set activity Each team present how you have developed your ‘vision’ and started to formulate your initiative Learning set to provide feedback to each team

BSV Associates Ltd 29 Next Steps Implementation of the plan Peer support through the JISC list Ongoing support through BSV as critical friend / resource ECU – support / resource Future learning set days: - Thursday 13 October Wednesday 18 January 2012

BSV Associates Ltd 30 Resources / Contacts