HEFCW's Equality Scheme, action plan and
annual report
In 2008 we produced one equality scheme to cover all of our equality and diversity activities. It details our commitment to equality and aims to provide our staff and stakeholders with a clear account of our work on equality, both in the higher education sector in Wales and within HEFCW.
Our equality and diversity policy sets out HEFCW’s commitment to equality of opportunity and our promise to treat all employees, and potential employees, fairly and considerately, as well as the values and behaviours we expect of staff. Our equality scheme shows how we intend to take these expectations forward.
Our 2008-2010 equality scheme brought together our separate equality schemes and action plans for disability, gender and race, and provided information on our development work in age, religion and belief, sexual orientation, and equality generally. Although there were similarities within the different strands of equalities legislation, there were also significant differences in the statutory obligations that needed to be met. HEFCW aimed to co-ordinate equalities work wherever possible – particularly to promote a unified approach, cross-strand working and address multiple identities. Each equality strand retained its own identity within the equality scheme and we also reported separately on each strand in our annual reports.
We will align each future edition of our equality scheme with our Corporate Strategy.
Given the impending publication of the specific equality duties in Wales, we will be rolling over our current 2008-2010 equality scheme and action plan into 2011. Throughout 2011 we will be consulting and involving staff and stakeholders to prepare for our new equality scheme, scheduled to be published in April 2012. Contact us at equality@hefcw.ac.uk if you want to be involved in any of our stakeholder exercises.
HEFCW’s first combined Equality Scheme, covering the period 2008-10
Our equality action plan details our planned activities in relation to the race, disability and gender equality duties. A copy is included at the end of our annual report and the full action plan includes regular updates on action points throughout the year.
The 2009 and draft 2010 Action Plans are available from equality@hefcw.ac.uk.
Our equality and diversity annual report summarises the operation of HEFCW’s equality scheme and action plan, and reports on other key equality and diversity activities.
In April 2010, the disability, gender and race equality and diversity legislation was repealed and superseded by the 2010 Equality Act. The specific duties both in Wales and in England are still out for consultation.
The information provided on our website is available in accessible formats, including electronic and audio CD, and large print, on request from equality@hefcw.ac.uk.
