Dear Fehmeeda,
In the spirit of ensuring that the institution does what would be deemed
to be most reasonable and practicable, how about making sure that other
relevant organizations are involved. Depending on the subject
denomination, belief or religion, being considered, organizations like
the Jewish Board of Deputies, the British Muslim Association, the
Seventh Day Adventist Regional Conference etc, and the appropriate
commission/s, could be invited to contribute to the debate.
The institutional debate will also need to remember to include any other
relevant groups within the institution itself of-course.
It just means that whatever conclusion is reached, will be well informed
and will also have had the widest inclusion of the relevant stakeholders
who can/should be involved. It also shows the institution's genuine
commitment to finding the most reasonable option to take, given all the
demands that will need to be taken into consideration on the
institution's, students' and/or staff sides, will be evidently apparent.
Given the E&D relevance within which these issues should be dealt with,
the institution will also able to make a genuine case of having
implemented the spirit of the E&D legal requirements on its practice,
should there be a need to do so to anyone.
I hope this adds to the ideas that you already have.
Regards
Mannie.
-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Susanna Hancock
Sent: 01 October 2004 09:45
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Saturday workshops
We have had similar issues, with Jewish students also on Friday
afternoons. So far we have managed I think to negotiate around a
solution which I could talk about off list.
Susanna.
-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Fehmeeda Riaz
Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2004 11:13 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Saturday workshops
Dear All,
We have had an interesting query from one of our academic colleagues
regarding the attendance of compulsory Saturday workshops for part-time
postgraduate students (ie CIPD and MA HRM students) and how this may
pose problems for devout Jewish students. This may also apply to
visiting lecturers who attend some development sessions on Saturdays.
We are committed to embracing diversity and promoting equality and wish
to enter into the spirit as well as the letter of the law on prohibiting
any kind of discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief.
I was wondering if any other colleagues had had similar queries and how
they had dealt with them? Clearly, there is a need to make reasonable
adjustments and offer alternatives, but we are often dealing with very
large courses and student numbers and you can all imagine the sheer
logistics of organising separate sessions for part- students.
Any advice would be most welcome!
With best wishes
Fehmeeda
Fehmeeda Riaz
Employee Relations Adviser (Diversity)
University of Westminster
HR Department
9-18 Euston Centre
Tel: 0207-911-5776
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