Equality Challenge Unit

Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) works with the Higher Education sector to promote equality and diversity in employment. Through this initiative, it will extend its role to the promotion of equality and diversity in relation to students. ECU recently appointed a Policy Adviser to lead the Unit's work on disabled student issues - this development can o... nly be to the advantage of disabled students. The Higher Education Academy will disseminate the learning from disability projects through its UK-wide network of Subject Centres and embed disability awareness and practice in professional standards frameworks. The Higher Education Academy works with universities and colleges, discipline groups, individual staff and organisations to help them deliver the best possible learning experience for students. It has a triple focus on national policy, institutional support, and subject and staff development. It is an independent organisation funded by grants from the four funding bodies, subscriptions from HEIs and grant and contract income for specific initiatives. Its functions include the accreditation of programmes of individuals as registered practitioners, research and evaluation, and a UK-wide Subject Network providing discipline-based support for learning and teaching. Action on Access is the national co-ordination team providing support to institutions and partnerships who are delivering Widening Participation activity, and the development of HEFCE WP policy. It will provide a range of centralised functions including a helpline, a "gateway" to other disability service providers, publications and seminars, and resources for disability practitioners building on the work previously provided by the National Disability Team. Action on Access's highly flexible and user friendly service will be further developed by a team led by Jenni Dyer, Policy Director at SKILL and comprising colleagues who have been working with the National Disability Team. The team will provide a first point of contact to the sector in relation to ...Read More