SFC update - equality and diversity support in colleges and universities
At its February 2009 meeting, Council approved delegated authority to the Access and Inclusion Committee (AIC) to determine SFC's strategy on equality and diversity, further to the decision not to renew the funding of Equality Forward. The AIC took this work forward through a sub-group headed by Council member Ali Jarvis.
The sub-group met four times between April and October 2009 and identified a vision for achieving equality and diversity in Scotland's colleges and universities.
Equality and diversity consultation
Within this vision, the Group agreed that there were eight specific functions needed to deliver SFC's equality and diversity objectives: advice; development; representation; capacity building; monitoring and measurement; knowledge exchange; leadership and enhancement. On the issue of leadership, it was noted that SFC will need to lead by example on equality and diversity - a challenge it has set itself within the SFC's internal single Equality Scheme.
The eight functions were mapped onto a four-level vision for equality and diversity support. The vision was supported by the overarching aim to enable the sectors, individual institutions, our partners and SFC to operate effectively at all levels - but increasingly to exert influence, enable systemic change and achieve sustainable impact at higher levels. The four levels of the vision are:
- level 1 - Advice and Information;
- level 2 - Targeted development and capacity building;
- level 3 - Equalities leadership; and
- level 4 - Systemic Change/integration.
This vision was issued as consultation Equality and diversity support in colleges and universities (SFC/04/2009 C) from July to 9 October.
Consultation process
Supporting the consultation, seven focussed discussion groups were held with:
- Scotland's Colleges' Principals' Convention
- Skill Scotland
- Equality Forums' Chairs and Vice-Chairs
- HE Disability Network
- STUC
- Universities Scotland
- NUS Scotland
The HE Academy has also requested a meeting to discuss the SFC vision and this meeting will happen on 4 December 2009.
In addition, an open consultation seminar was attended by 53 college and university delegates and representatives from external organisations, including UCU, Skill Scotland, QAA Scotland, Stonewall Scotland, SPA and HE Academy.
Consultation written responses
A total of 55 written responses were received from:
- External organisations - 16;
- Universities - 15 (75 per cent of sector); and
- Colleges - 24 (56 per cent of sector).
Excluding the external organisations, where a percentage response would be difficult to calculate, approximately 62 per cent of the combined sectors responded to the consultation. The consultation responses have been collated and worked into recommendations for Council.
Next steps
The Council will discuss a proposed strategy that has been informed by the consultation process at its November 2009 meeting.
If approved, the AIC is expected to lead on future developments.