1. How can ECU’s Race Equality Charter tackle degree awarding rates

2. ECU
Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) works to further and support equality and diversity for staff and students in higher education institutions across the UK and in colleges in Scotland.

3. Start the right conversations
Raising aspirations
Prior attainment
Socio-economic background
Bad admissions decision

4. Involvement and consultation

5. No magic bullet

6. Not a deficit approach
In developing solutions to racial inequalities, it is important that they are aimed at achieving long-term institutional culture change, avoiding a deficit model where solutions are aimed at changing the individual.

7. Not just about attainment
Sense of belonging:
- institution
- discipline
- campus
- social settings
Staff diversity
- role models
- unconscious bias & stereotype threat
- Research and perspectives
Academic pipeline

8. ECU’s Charters
Recognising advancement of gender equality: representation, progression and success for all.
Improving the representation, progression and success of minority ethnic staff and students within higher education

9. Equality Charters How do they work?
Self Assessment Team
Senior management buy-in
Evidence-based (data analysis)
Involvement and consultation
Prioritise and develop aims, objectives and actions
Re-apply every three years, making progress and measuring impact

10. Benefits of taking part
Widening access (OFFA)
Teaching and learning (TEF)
Internationalisation & Globalisation
Demonstrating equality commitment for research council funding
Talent management (BME academic flight)
Innovation, Creativity & Productivity
Reputation

11. Evaluating the trial
“…Having a SAT and creating an action plan which the University has committed to has made it possible to keep momentum going instead of being another issue that is talked about and left for certain members of staff to implement.”
“It is very intense, but so worth the time and effort.”
“The process encouraged us to look at our data, policies and procedures and culture and identify actions to continuously improve the experience of BME staff and students, as well as the experience of all staff and students. It’s a long journey and that was a great start.”

12. Any questions?
Claire Herbert Race Equality Charter Manager @ECURaceCharter