Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Our community is large and diverse. Our students, faculty, professional services staff, alumni and partners come from a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures and nationalities, but one aim we have is that everyone who interacts with WBS feels able to ‘be themselves’.

We have listened to many people talk about their experience of higher education and we have come to understand that, for some, ‘being yourself’ can be difficult, especially at a leading University. There can be a pressure to conform. We strive to create and sustain a cosmopolitan, open and welcoming environment where people can express themselves freely.

A second aim of our EDI work is to understand how structural inequalities manifest themselves at WBS and with what consequences. This involves addressing big issues, such as gender pay gap, and the under-representation of black people within our community of scholars. It also means being attentive to the ways difference is manifested in particular situations; the big consequences of apparently small things. We are learning not to be blind to difference, rather we strive to understand the challenges people face, and to use this to guide our work.

Formally, four main groups work on EDI projects.

Separate Staff and Student Equality and Diversity Committees
An Athena Swan Steering Group
A Race Equality Network.

These groups have reach into all the major operational areas of the School. We have extended this reach by embedding EDI principles in our routines. Whatever people are doing, whether they are hiring faculty, recruiting students, inviting external speakers, or reviewing courses, the work will be carried out within the auspices of our EDI aims. We try to make EDI a matter of everyday life within the School.

Our EDI themes

Our Wellbeing and Disability theme looks after student and staff wellbeing - including physical health, mental health and lifestyle - and disabilities. We review the needs of our community and organise a programme of events throughout the year.

Our Race and Religion theme focuses on the inclusive environment at WBS and works to ensure that all members of our community feel a sense of belonging and are treated with respect and dignity, irrespective of their race or religious belief.

The Caring Responsibilities theme aims to identify and work on solutions to issues that impact students and staff with caring commitments. It looks at maternity leave, paternity leave, adoption leave, return to work and working parents’ rights, and how to achieve and maintain a work life balance.

Our LGBTQUA+ theme provides support and advice to our community and aims to ensure that our environment is friendly and inclusive for all. They promote our support network and work to increase awareness of the different identities within the LGBTQUA+ community, correct terminology and pronoun use, and how to be as inclusive as possible.

Committed to the promotion of gender equality and the Athena Swan ‘ten key principles’, we’ve worked hard to deliver on our Silver award action plan including; workload models, mentoring and talent management programmes, gender balancing on committees, and reducing the number of temporary contracts.

Athena Swan

Athena Swan was originally established in 2005 to encourage and recognise a commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) in higher education employment and research.

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Inspiring women

We're breaking down the physical, cultural and mental barriers that women face, through our research, our education programmes, and our networks.

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