The Equality Act 2010 requires the University to publish a set of Equality Outcomes by the end of April 2013. The Equality Outcomes are linked to activities that we think will assist us in meeting the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) which requires us to pay due regard to the need to:
• eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
• advance equality of opportunity between people of different groups; and,
• foster good relations between people of different groups
The Equality Act outlines 'Protected Characteristics', groups who are protected by law from unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation. The Protected Characteristics cover: Sex, Race, Disability, Age, Sexual Orientation, Gender Reassignment, Religion/Non-belief, Pregnancy/ Maternity, Marriage/civil partnership.
The University's Equality and Diversity Advisory Group (EDAG) has led the process of developing these Equality Outcomes. The EDAG is chaired by the University Secretary and is made up of representatives from across the University including Trades Unions and the Student body.
The EDAG has used the information gathered in recent activities such as the HWU Census 2012 exercise, an Equality Challenge Unit Mainstreaming Project and Athena SWAN to develop Equality Outcomes that are:
• relevant to Heriot-Watt University - based on who makes up the University Community
• geared toward improving Heriot-Watt University - based on feedback from staff and students across all campuses''
• moving toward creating a 'Culture of Inclusion for All' - based on joined up working and embedding the Spirit of Heriot-Watt in all we do
The EDAG is consulting on the Equality Outcomes through a short survey for staff and students. The draft Equality Outcomes and the survey can be found at www.hw.ac.uk/equality/Equalityoutcomes.html
The survey will take no longer than 10 Minutes to complete will run from Monday 25 March until Friday 19 April 2013 all information will be held in the strictest of confidence in accordance with Data Protection legislation.