You may have heard the term used in many different ways, but do you really know what Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is all about?
Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) runs through everything we do at the university and affects each and every member of our community.
We've launched the Let’s be clear about EDI campaign to inform, educate, and guide people through the core values behind equality, diversity and inclusion and show how the university embeds it in all we do. For the first part of this campaign we provided a conversation guide to stimulate a university wide conversation at a local level so that we can understand what EDI means personally and collectively. During the second part of this campaign we are providing a conversation aid to help take these conversations further.
What is EDI?
Equality: is about equal access to opportunities, removing barriers and disadvantage for everyone.
Diversity: is about being reflective of the wider community and supporting representation
Inclusion: is about valuing, respecting, and celebrating difference and building a sense of belonging.
These principles, when put into practice, aim to create a happy and effective environment for everyone, where people are free to develop and thrive both personally and professionally. Find out more in our short video below:
You can access a voice-over and full transcript of the video in the attachments section of the mediaspace page.
How does EDI affect me?
The principles that underpin EDI are relevant to everyone at the university - whether a student, member of staff or alumni. We want our community to be inclusive of all people, focusing on their skills and attributes and providing a level playing field for everyone – regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, race, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity (these are called protected characteristics) as well as socio-economic, neurodiversity, temporary impairment and caring responsibilities.
No matter which department, faculty, school or team you belong to and no matter where you are on your career path, EDI will and does affect you. It is about taking into consideration all aspects that may affect, or disadvantage a person’s environment, removing barriers and always being open to understanding people’s different needs.
What are we doing?
Building a truly inclusive environment for our staff and students is a top priority for the University and a number of different strands play a part in making that a reality.
Explore the links below to find out more about equality, diversity and inclusion and how you can play your part in developing an inclusive culture at the university. You can also display these posters in your local areas, or use them as prompts for your conversations.