Queen Mary Equality Forum Meeting
Thursday 3rd November 2pm-3.30pm
Venue: Robert Tong Room – Queen’s building
Present:
Professor Simon Gaskell (SJG) – Principal, Chair
Bertille Calinaud (BC) – Diversity Specialist
Professor Virginia Davis (VGD) - Dean for Research (Humanities & Social
Sciences)
Jadgish Dalal – Unison representative
Guy Halliwell (GH) – Human Resources
Dr Anwar Tappuni (AT) – BDA representative
Professor Evelyn Welch – Vice-Principal (Research & International Affairs)
Oscar Williamson (OW) – Student Union
Dr Tessa Wright – UCU representative
Apologies:
Raph Ashley- Unison representative
Chris Pearson – Director of Human Resources
Carole Rennie – Office of the Principal
Kevin Thurlow – Co-Chair QM Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Staff
Network
Part 1 Preliminary Items
1. Apologies
Apologies were received
2. Introduction – forum objectives
SJG explained the objectives of the Forum, which is a mechanism to capture
a wide range of opinions on equality and diversity. The Forum is also a means
of consultation and feedback to inform EDSG decision-making. The terms of
reference were sent to members.
Action: BC to replace “QMequality Forum meets every term before the EDSG”
by “QMequality Forum meets 3 times per academic year” in the Terms of
Reference.
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Part 2 Items for discussion
3. Equality Act – legal framework
BC gave a presentation about the content and implications of the Equality Act
2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED).
OW asked whether Student Unions are covered by the PSED
Action: BC to contact ECU to clarify the legal situation of Student Union.
TW expressed the concern that not all staff will be aware of the duty. BC
explained that it is covered in several training programmes including (Equality
Assessment training, Recruitment and selection training, etc.). The content of
the PSED was only been confirmed by the government in September 2011.
Action: BC to prepare a communication paper on the Equality Act and
the PSED.
4. Equality Objectives – the College approach
BC presented possible strategies for the College to establish equality
objectives for the next 4 years as required by the PSED.
It was agreed that the College should have a short overall equality and
diversity strategy. Schools/departments/institutes should then agree
objectives that fit their needs. It was suggested that clear information is
included about how the strategy and the actions are monitored and followed
up both at College and school/department/institute level.
Action: BC to prepare a proposal for the next EDSG
5. Student equality survey feedback and recommendations
BC presented the survey, some of the findings and the recommendations.
The group discussed the fact that student seem not to report incidents of
concern that relate to diversity, partly as they do not know where to do so.
OW pointed out that the student union is often the first point of contact as well
as personal tutors. EW noted that the answers for international students in
the equality survey mirror the ones in the International Students Barometer.
It was suggested that information should be available on both the student
handbook and that relevant web pages in Connect should be search engine
optimised to ensure information is readily found.
Action: BC to raise it with staff in charge of student handbook and with
Sally Webster and Rosalind Stannard for Connect.
The group agreed the recommendations in the survey.
Action: BC to prepare the action plan to implement and send to EDSG
6. Athena SWAN – women in science and engineering
BC explained the purpose of the Athena SWAN initiative. EW added that from
the next meeting she will take the role as Chair of the group and Brian Colvin
will act as co-chair to ensure all projects linked to gender equality (ECU
gender pilot project, Concordat for excellence in research, etc.) and the
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Research Excellence Framework (REF) are coordinated. This will send a
clear message that there is an institutional commitment to these projects.
7. Supporting disabled staff – handbook
BC explained that the College now has central budget in HR to fund
reasonable adjustments and that the handbook has been prepared to provide
information to disabled staff. Publication of this advice was welcomed.
8. Equality and the REF (Research Excellence Framework)
EW explained that the Draft Code of Practice for the REF on the Connect side
under “research” was under the process of revision. QM has asked HEFCE
whether they would scrutinize the Code of Practice to in advance of 2013.
The REF team has announced that for each maternity leave taken the number
of outputs required will be reduced by 1. We are awaiting complementary
clarification as to how this extends to paternity and adoption. There will be a
REF equality training for panel members in December.
9. Rolling out an online Equality and Diversity course
BC explained that there are different training courses available that cover
equality and diversity:
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fair selection and interview skills (1 day course and 1 1/2 hour refresher)
that is mandatory for staff sitting on interview panel
equality impact assessment training
online course on equality and diversity training
Student and Campus Services theatre style training
The online course has recently been updated and the roll out is planned as
follows:
Human Resources staff (for those who have not been trained in the past 3
years), every staff member who is a witness in a discrimination tribunal, staff
members involved in the REF but are not panel members, departmental
administrators, student support officers, departments where staff indicated in
the staff survey that there were perceived concerns about a lack of equality,
discrimination, bullying, etc
10. Any other business
SJG raised the fact that the group had a small attendance and asked
members about possible solutions to ensure a better representation of staff
and students. It was agreed that relevant student societies should be invited.
Action: BC to contact relevant students’ societies.
OW to contact students that could be interested.
BC to send to all the LGBT staff network
11. Date of next meeting
Tbc.
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