Dear Susanna
My experiences are very similar, being placed in an instiution that
does not currently have a race equality policy. It seems we have a very
long way to go, and a short time in which to do so. It will be very
helpful to get some sector-wide guidance from UUK in the near
future. And I hope that this will look at student and staff
issues together, because the last diversity event I attended, partly
sponsored by UUK, confined itself solely to staff issues. Though I
notice that Mannie makes specific reference to student monitoring in her
recent email. It would also be helpful if the ECU could circulate its
guidance via this forum and others such as the AUA, because I do not
always get circulars that are sent direct to the office of the
Principal.
I do very much welcome the RRAA, but feel that the
implications for the HE sector may not have been consistently thought
through in the understandable rush to publish.
While I take the point that institutions will have to tailor their
race equality policies to their own specific cultures,the guidance
issued by CRE is not consistent in respect of, for example, the
employment requirements. HEIs are not bound by the employment duty (CRE
Code, Chapter 5) but the CRE Guide for FE and HEIs, also chapter 5,
states that 'you will need to take account of employment matters to
meet your general duty.' Well, this is fairly obvious, but not very
helpful, in practice.
Being realistic, I think that more time will be needed for HEIs to be
in a position to properly take forward the very far-reaching changes
that they need to make in respect of the race equality agenda, if they
are to do it properly. They will also need to talk and consult with a
wide range of people and review a wide range of procedures and
policies. Maybe some kind of sector-wide working party would be useful
to exchange views and good practice?
Regards
Virginia
On Tue, 29 Jan 2002 11:20:51 +0000 Susanna Hancock <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> Hi, colleagues, I'd be interested to know how you are all getting
> on with tthe implimentation of the RRA.
>
> Are people working on this on their own, with colleagues in the
> same dept, or with people who have the expertise, or in corporate
> groups, or none of these.
>
> I'm asking because of course, I'm having difficulty getting any
> interest from my colleagues here, apart from the usual people who
> always support eo issues and do most of the work. I'm getting so
> fedup with them all! I'm probably having a bad day, but would love
> to hear from colleagues who are being overwhelmed with support,
> or having the same problems as I am, or have got some ideas for
> going forward!
>
> I have been feeling really positive and enthused about the RRA and
> what it could meanfor all eo issues; but I'm getting very anxiousand
> bogged down about it now.
>
> C'mon, Susanna, stop this whinging,and get onwith it!
>
> Do drop a line if you have anything you would like to share on this
> issue.
>
> Susanna.
>
>
> Susanna Hancock
> Equal Opportunities Officer
> HRS
> Telephone: 020 8411 6873
> Email: [log in to unmask]
----------------------
Virginia M Wainwright
Equal Opportunities Officer
King's College London
James Clerk Maxwell Building
57 Waterloo Road
London SE1 8WA
020 7848 3399
[log in to unmask]
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