Equality & Diversity

Equality & Diversity

At UWS we’re committed to equality and diversity in all we do. Not only does this have a positive impact on the communities we serve – it also makes great business sense.

Latest progress

Recently we have:

• become a Stonewall diversity champion, committing to LGBT+-friendly practices

• signed up to the Listen campaign, tackling discrimination for young people leaving the care system

• played an active part in the Standing Safe campaign to prevent sexual violence on campus

• delivered training in equality and unconscious bias to 250 staff

• hosted campus events to promote inclusion – from World Hijab Day to International Women’s Day.

Gender equality

Women make up:

• 61% of our workforce

• 50% of academic and research staff

• 45% of our senior management

We’re working hard to reduce our gender pay gap, which is currently at 17% (the national average for higher education is 18.1%). Our Gender Action Plan was published in July 2017.

Our long-running series of regular events, Inspiring Women, sees prominent women discuss how they achieved their goals. The highlight is an annual conference with workshops for staff and students.

We’re also accredited to the Athena SWAN charter, set up to advance female representation in science, engineering and technology subjects.

Education for all

UWS is recognised as a leader in widening access to higher education from all parts of the community.

• 27% of our Scottish-based undergraduate entrants were from the 20% most deprived postcodes in 2015/16

• We’re the UK’s number 1 university for accepting students from further education colleges

• Since 2008 we’ve achieved a 43% rise in applications from young people leaving care – and enrolments have increased by 500%

Read about our work with schools and colleges through our Partnerships.

Our policies

We’re an inclusive university. We extend our commitment to everyone – regardless of age, disability, gender identity, pregnancy and maternity, marital status, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

We respect and celebrate diversity. We don’t tolerate exclusion, harassment or victimisation. And we tackle discrimination and prejudice.

We’re an inclusive university. We extend our commitment to everyone – regardless of age, disability, gender identity, pregnancy and maternity, marital status, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

We respect and celebrate diversity. We don’t tolerate exclusion, harassment or victimisation. And we tackle discrimination and prejudice.

• Read our full equality, diversity and human rights procedure

• Read our equality, diversity and human rights guidance notes

• Read our equality outcomes for 2017, developed in consultation with staff and students

• See our latest equal pay report

• Read our equality impact assessment policy