Heriot-Watt University Equality Profile
In taking forward equality and diversity activity we have to be aware of and
understand our institution. This paper outlines our equality profile covering the
student and staff populations. The information contained in this document
have been sources from the University Annual Statistics, information held by
Human Resources and the Academic Registry and concentrates on those
statistics that relating to existing legislation that covers race, gender and
disability. Where available, we also include information relating to other
equality strands, in particular age.
This paper has been used to inform activities outlined in our Equality Scheme
2009-2012.
1.
Ethnicity Profile
Heriot-Watt University is referred to as Scotland’s International University as a
result not only from our wide reach in providing learning opportunities globally
but also the large international presence within our campuses.
Students
With c30% of our student population from out with the UK our campuses,
particularly the Edinburgh Campus, are diverse populations. As shown in
Chart 1 during the 2007/08 and 2008-09 sessions the majority of non-UK
domiciled students come from Europe. During the 2008-09 session there has
been a slight rise in the number of students from Africa and the Americas.
French, German, Greek Polish, Chinese and Indian Students remain the most
represented non UK students.
Chart 1.
% Non-UK Domiciled Students by Continent 2007-2009
60.0%
53.3%52.7%
50.0%
40.0%
33.5%33.1%
2007-08 %
30.0%
2008-09%
20.0%
8.6% 9.5%
10.0%
4.2% 4.4%
0.3% 0.3%
0.1% 0.1%
0.0%
Europe
Americas
Australasia
Asia
Africa
other
In responding to this diverse group the University takes steps to ensure their
needs are met. Specific Daily Prayer facilities and space for Friday Worship
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ensures that our significant Muslim population is well catered for. In addition,
we ensure our catering facilities meet the needs of this and other groups via a
range of catering outlets and products.
The majority of entrants to the University in session 2007-08 and 2008-09
where from White backgrounds, as shown in Chart 2. Within the broad
headings of the chart, Black-African (Black), Pakistani and Chinese (Asian)
were the most highly represented groups in both sessions. Further detailed
information is available via the University Annual Statistics 2008-09 which can
be found at www.hw.ac.uk/reference/annual_statistics.pdf
Chart 2
Ethnicity of Entrants 2007-2009
100.0%
91.3% 92.7%
80.0%
60.0%
2007-2008
40.0%
2008-2009
20.0%
1.5%
1.1%
4.3%
4.6%
2.4%
1.5%
0.4%
0.4%
0.0%
White
Black
Asian
Mixed
Other ethnic
background
Staff
Our staff population is made up of academic and non academic staff, grouped
under the following grade ranges; Professorial, Academic (non-professorial),
Research, Academic/other Related, Secretarial/Clerical, Technical, Craft and
Manual.
As an international university based in Scotland there is diversity within our
workforce and this differs within each of the staff groups. Overall, our staff
population is c80% White. Chart 3 shows the ethnicity of our staff at
December 2008. The chart also shows that just under 13% of our staff have
either chosen not to record their ethnicity or the University does not hold this
information.
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Chart 3
Staff Ethnicity 2009
100%
79.8%
80%
60%
Univeristy % of Total
40%
1.7%
2.7%
1.0%
0.2%
0.9%
Asain/Asian
British
Chinese
Other Asian
Other Mixed
Other Ethnic
background
12.9%
0.8%
Black/Black
British
20%
Not
known/refused
White
0%
Chart 4
Staff Ethnicity by Grade Range December 2008
Not know n/refused
Dubai
Other Ethnic background
EBS
Other Mixed
Craft and Manual
Other Asian
Technical
Secretarial/Clerical
Chinese
Academic/Other Related
Asain/Asian British
Research
Black/Black British
Academic (all)
White
0.0%
5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0% 30.0%
Chart 4 illustrates in more depth the composition of our staff by grade ranges
and includes Edinburgh Business School and the Dubai campus. This shows
that across grades, the staff population is predominantly White. In addition,
this chart shows that issues surrounding refusal to answer or missing data is
spread across the grades. This information, along with our collection of
disability related information shows a challenge for the University in accurate
data collection and disclosure. Chart 5 continues this trend with again c12% of
staff either not recorded or refusing to disclose their ethnicity.
Chart 5 shows an overview of staff ethnicity in 2009, showing that our
percentage of undisclosed staff ethnicity is higher than the percentage
disclosing BME backgrounds. Disclosure across the equality strands has
been highlighted as an area of significant activity by HWU.
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Chart 5
Staff Ethnicity 2009
White
Black, Minority Ethnic
Not Stated
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2.
Gender Profile
Heriot-Watt University offers a wide range of disciplines for study and
research, along with comprehensive support systems for our student
population. Overall the gender split within our student and staff populations is
reasonably even, however, when we look at the statistics
at a School or
grade level there is a clearer picture of the spread of males and females
within the University community.
Students
Our student population tends to be split along ‘traditional’ lines with a larger
number of males undertaking science, engineering and technological areas of
study. However, as our largest School is the School of Management and
Languages and the School of Textiles and Design is almost 98% female, at
the University wide level our gender split is quite even, as shown in Chart 6
which shows the percentage of full time and part time male and female
students in sessions 2007-08 and 2008-09.
Chart 6
% of Full and Part time Male and Female Students 07/08-08/09
100%
80%
60%
Male
40%
Female
20%
Undergraduate Students
Postgraduate Taught
PT
08/09
PT
07/08
FT
08/09
FT
07/08
PT
08/09
PT
07/08
FT
08/09
FT
07/08
PT
08/09
PT
07/08
FT
08/09
FT
07/08
0%
Postgraduate Research
Degree Type
Charts 7 – 12 still the information in Chart 6 to School level. Chart 7 shows
the School of Built Environment for the session 2008-09. It shows that there
is a much higher percentage of males than female in each programme of
study.
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Chart 7
% Male and Female UGs SBE 2008/09
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Male
Female
Full Time
Part
Time
Architectural
Full Time
Part
Time
Civil Engineering
Full Time
Part
Time
Construction
Full Time
Part
Time
Urban Studies
School of the Built Environment
Chart 8
% Male and Female UGs SLS 08/09
100%
80%
60%
Male
40%
Female
20%
0%
Full Time
Part Time
Biology
Full Time
Part Time
Psychology
Full Time
Part Time
Sport & Exercise
School of Life Sciences
Chart 8 shows that the School of Life Sciences has a more even spread of
males and females across the School as a whole with c51% female full time
students. This is a reflection of the subject areas offered within the School.
Chart 9 shows the gender split within the School of Engineering and Physical
Sciences. This is the School with the highest percentage of male students.
The Chemistry programme has the highest percentage of females with just
over 46% of the full time students’ female.
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Chart 9
% Male and Female UGs EPS 08/09
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Male
Female
Full
Part
Time Time
Full
Part
Time Time
Full
Part
Time Time
Full
Part
Time Time
Full
Part
Time Time
Full
Part
Time Time
Chem Eng
Chemistry
Combined
Studies
Electrical,
Electronic &
Mechanical
Engineering
Physics
School of Engineering and Physical Sciences
The School of Engineering and Physical Sciences has the highest percentage
of females within Chemistry, as shown above. The other programmes of study
continue a significantly higher proportion of male undergraduates.
Chart 10, below, shows that while the School of Management and Languages
has a more even gender balance, some programmes of study retain a higher
proportion of male undergraduates, particularly Economics and Accountancy
and Finance. Languages, continue to have a higher percentage of females.
Chart 10
% Male and Female UGs SML 08/09
100%
80%
60%
Male
40%
Female
20%
0%
Full
Time
Part
Time
Accountancy &
Finance
Full
Time
Part
Time
Combined
Studies
Full
Time
Part
Time
Economics
Full
Time
Part
Time
Languages
Full
Time
Part
Time
M anagement
Full
Time
Part
Time
M anagement
(SBC)
Full
Time
Part
Time
M anagement
(Link)
Full
Time
Part
Time
Foundation
Eng/Interpret.
School of M anagement and Languages
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Chart 11
% Male and Female UGs MACs 08/09
100%
80%
Male
60%
40%
Female
20%
0%
Full Time
Part Time
Full Time
Actuarial Mathematics &
Stats
Part Time
Full Time
Computer Science
Part Time
Mathematics
School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences
As shown in Chart 11 above, the School of Mathematical and Computer
Sciences has a good gender balanced within Actuarial Mathematics and
Statistics, along with Mathematics. Computer Science however has a low
percentage of female undergraduates.
Chart 12
% Male and Female UGs ST&D 08/09
100%
80%
60%
40%
100%
100%
98%
100%
Full Time
Part Time
Full Time
Part Time
Male
Female
20%
0%
Combined Studies
Textiles & Design
School of Textiles and Design
The School of Textiles and Design has the most significant gender imbalance
of all Schools, with the smallest percentage of male undergraduates as shown
above in chart 12.S
Staff
At the institutional level our gender balance among staff is 54% Male and 46%
female. This balance is maintained by females making up 60% of the support
staff, were as 32% of our academic staff are female, as shown in chart 13.
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Chart 13
% Male and Female Staff 2009
100%
80%
60%
40%
68%
54%
male
female
40%
20%
0%
Academic
Support
All Staff
HW
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3. Disability Profile
The University recognises that disclosure levels are low. A higher proportion
of our student population discloses disability than our staff population. 7 % of
our student population in session 2008-09 (chart 14) declared a disability
along side 2% of staff in 2009 (chart 16).
Our student population discloses a range of disabilities with dyslexia making
up over 40% of declarations in both the 2007-08 and 2008-09 academic
sessions, as shown in Chart 15.
Students
Chart 14
Declared Disabilty 2007-08 and 2008-09
100.0%
80.0%
60.0%
No Known Disability
Declared Disability
40.0%
20.0%
0.0%
5.7%
7.0%
2007-08
2008-09
Chart 15
Declared Disability 2007-08 and 2008-09
60.0%
40.0%
2007-08
20.0%
2008-09
0.0%
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Chart 16
HWU Staff Declared Disability 2009
No known Impairment
Disability/Impairment
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4. Age Profile
Our student population is made up mostly of students aged 17-30 years old.
Our over 31 age group makes up c12% of the student undergraduate
population, as shown in chart 17.
Students
Chart 17
HWU Student Age Profile 2007
17-30
older than 31
Staff
Our staff population has a greater diversity in terms of age ranges. The
highest percentage of staff fall into the 44-54 age range (29%), followed by
35-44 (25%). The 25-34 age range makes up 19%of the staff population and
22% are within the range 55-64%. Our smallest percentage of staff come from
the 16-24 (3%) and 65 + (1%) age ranges. All of this information is contained
in chart 18.
Chart 18
HWU Staff Age Ranges 2009
16-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65 Plus
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