Race

Equality Law

Equality Act 2010 (Applies in England, Scotland and Wales)

Protected characteristic

Race is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.

Protection and functions

Protection is provided against discrimination, harassment and victimisation on the grounds of race applies to employment, education, the provision of goods, facilities and services, the management of premises and the exercise of public functions.

This means protection related to race for people seeking work, current and former employees in terms of:

• Job recruitment
• Access to benefits and services
• Treatment they receive

This means protection related to race for enquirers, current and past students in terms of:

• Student registration
• Access to benefits and services Treatment they receive

Public sector equality duty

Race is included in the public sector duty under the Equality Act 2010 which means we have to have due regard to the need to:

• Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Act.
• Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant characteristic and persons who do not share it.
• Foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not it.

Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997

Prohibits discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race, colour, ethnic or national origins, nationality, including belonging to the Irish Traveller community.

Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Applies in Northern Ireland)

The protected characteristic of race is subject to the duty placed on public authorities (which includes the OU) to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity:

• Between persons of different age, religious belief, political opinion, racial group, marital status or sexual orientation
• Between men and women generally
• Between persons with a disability and persons without
• Between persons with dependants and persons without.

This entails more than the elimination of discrimination and requires proactive measures to be taken to ensure equality for people of different racial groups in our policies and decision-making.

In addition, public authorities have a duty to have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between people of religious belief, political opinion or racial group.

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OU Resources

Monitoring

Equality and diversity annual report

The University’s Equality and Diversity Annual Report provides information about significant achievements and developments in the past year. It provides insights on our work to mainstream equality across all our functions and on specific projects and activities that aim to advance equality as well as promote and foster good relations.  View the annual reports 

Monitoring reports

We publish reports annually that provide comprehensive monitoring information, including data tables and charts related to governance, staff and students, across a wide range of participation and progress indicators at an institutional level.  View the monitoring reports  

Staff Leadership and Mentoring

Aspire ~ Leadership and Mentoring Programme

This programme aims to support career development for ethnic minority and disabled staff at the OU through a combination of mentoring, facilitated workshops and ongoing activities.  It is open to all staff at all grades self-identifying as ethnic minority or disabled. 

Aspire ~ Plus

This is a leadership mentoring and development programme for OU staff who have completed the Aspire~ mentoring programme. 

Staff Networks

The University has a number of staff networks related to race:

• Black and Minority Ethnic Staff Network
• Hong Kong Chinese Network
• English as an Additional Language (EAL) Special Interest Group

Employee Assistance Programme

OU staff have access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which is a support/counselling service provided by Wisdom Health Assured for the OU. The EAP covers a range of issues such as sickness, family issues, finances etc. 

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