Advance HE has committed to exploring how we can support our members to adopt a holistic approach to their equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) work, spanning across and moving beyond protected characteristics. This project builds on the previous feedback and the expressed appetite of the sector, and its outcomes have the potential to impact on EDI practice across the UK and globally. As we undertake this work, one of our core aims is to keep our members informed of our progress and build opportunities for shared learning and co-creation.
Identifying solutions to a complex problem While our previous work highlighted a clear appetite for implementing holistic approaches, we found that examples of a holistic approach in practice are currently limited: our call for evidence of good practice received no submissions. The lack of practical examples is hardly surprising when you consider the complexity of the contexts within which members are working. In the UK, institutions have a duty to tackle discrimination and advance equality across nine protected characteristics and have additional commitments to a range of other equality-related priorities, such as widening participation. With different regulatory frameworks, duties and drivers, activities relating to individual strands of equality have naturally become fragmented and, in some cases, siloed. In this context, it is understandable why members desire a more joined-up approach that supports them to use their resources wisely and ensure their interventions are as impactful as possible.
So how can we untangle some of the complexity and move toward a solution? We are commencing a Discovery Phase to explore how members can be supported in taking a more holistic approach to EDI, to understand existing EDI structures and related practice, and to understand and identify potential mitigations against current challenges and concerns.
