Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Information and updates on equality, diversity and inclusion within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business
Multiethnic group of people in a seamless pattern
If you have any queries about Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business please contact the Senior Administrator Equality and Diversity Support, Stacey Bains:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the Faculty of Arts Humanities and Business
The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team in the faculty support the EDI commitments and priorities of the three schools: Art, Design and Architecture, the ̽Ƶ Business School and the School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences. We develop faculty-level initiatives, through our commitments to Student Success and the Access and Participation Plan, and we support the delivery of school Athena Swan charters. Through monthly newsletters, we are a regular point of contact and distribution for relevant news items, achievements and events.
Dr Kathryn Gray
“Many colleagues are familiar with the University’s EDI agenda through their participation in the Athena Swan process and each school responds to their own action plan, through their EDI committees. School and Faculty EDI committees address issues of equality and diversity more broadly, supporting a number of initiatives that encourage inclusive working practices for staff and students.
The inter-connectedness of the University, Faculty and School EDI structures allows us to collaborate more effectively and share good practice more easily.”
Kathryn Gray (Faculty EDI Lead)
Professor Chris Bennewith
“The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business is home to staff and students from around the world, with a diverse and vibrant mix of individuals all of whom contribute their ideas, perspectives and opinions to make our Faculty a truly inclusive and collegiate community. We foster a respectful and understanding environment which actively supports the ongoing success of all of our staff, students and wider community.”
Chris Bennewith (Dean for FoAHB)
 

Events and showcase

The EDI team have organised dedicated events that promote awareness and engagement within the workplace. By recognising significant cultural observances and historical milestones, the team aims to foster a more inclusive environment where employees and students from diverse backgrounds feel valued and respected. These events are carefully curated to celebrate various cultural heritages, honour achievements, and raise awareness about important issues related to equity and diversity. Through events like workshops, seminars, art exhibitions, film screenings, panel discussions, and other activities, the EDI team works towards creating a workplace that embraces diversity and promotes inclusion at all levels.
Ink in water isolated on white background. Rainbow of colors
 

Celebrating Student Success related to EDI

We are proud to spotlight the achievements of our current and alumni students whose journeys reflect our core EDI values. These inspiring stories highlight personal resilience, breaking barriers, and making a difference, whether through academic excellence, career paths, or community impact.
This section showcases students who exemplify the positive outcomes of an inclusive and supportive environment.
Doaa Shayea Doaa Shayea

̽Ƶ Dolphins RFC – Championing Inclusion On and Off the Field

A group of ̽Ƶ students is making a powerful impact through sport and inclusion as proud members of , the city’s only inclusive rugby club, welcoming both LGBTQIA+ and non-LGBTQIA+ players. The team, affectionately known as The Pod, has gone from strength to strength this season, claiming multiple regional and national titles while breaking down barriers in sport.
Among the players are:
  • Kaine Benton, studying BSc (Hons) Professional Policing, who helped lead the team to victory in the IGR UK National Merit League and the Union Cup in Oslo, where they lifted the Valkyrie Shield in the Valhalla Tier.
  • Bence Békefi, BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Software Engineering), who is also a member of the University’s Men’s Water Polo Team.
  • Samuel North, a recent graduate with a MA in Music Production.
  • Tomhas Rayment, currently studying a BSc Apprenticeship in Occupational Therapy.
  • Cowyn Bryce, currently studying BSc Adult Nursing.
  • Abigail Joesbury, a recent graduate with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies. While Abbie hasn’t yet taken part in matches, she is part of a growing group of female players who train with the team regularly.
Rugby team standing together smiling
is more than a team, it's a community that champions diversity, acceptance, and equal opportunity, welcoming players of all identities and abilities, including those new to the sport. Many team members had never picked up a rugby ball before joining, making their international win in Oslo even more impressive.
This story of success celebrates the spirit of inclusivity and belonging at the heart of both the team and the university community. As the team continues to grow, their shared values of teamwork, resilience, and representation stand as a proud example of EDI in action.

Find out more about EDI work in our schools

̽Ƶ Business School - equality and diversity
̽Ƶ Business School
Athena Swan award in Art, Design and Architecture
School of Art, Design and Architecture
Finger prints graphic
Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Student Hub

The online student support resource for students who are part of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business.
 

EDI in Research

Diversity and curricula

In response to the University’s commitment to the Race Equality Charter application, the Faculty engaged a working group to discuss methods and approaches to decolonising HE curricula. Though collaborative partnerships and conversations with Educational Development, colleagues in the Faculty contributed to the creation and collation of resources and case studies.
The Faculty EDI team and chairs of the working group collated findings and resources to support further discussion and inclusive practices and pedagogies.

Decolonising research workshop

As part of the Deputy Vice Chancellor’s Research Festival 2021, co-chairs of the Faculty working group led an international research workshop:
The Keynote speaker was , Founding Director of Science Gallery Bengaluru (2018-present), the first Asian member of the Global Science Gallery Network, with a remit to engage and inspire visitors at the interface between science and art. Author of Atomic State: Big Science in Twentieth Century India and has co- edited Science of Giants: China and India in the Twentieth Century.

Disabled students to shape national guidance on disability support

A ̽Ƶ research project is working to improve national guidance on disability support in higher education, with a strong focus on equality, diversity, and inclusion. What sets this initiative apart is its student-led model, co-researchers with lived experience of disability are at the heart of the project, ensuring the findings are grounded in authentic perspectives.
The research aims to identify where current systems fall short and provide recommendations to help universities create more inclusive support structures. This work is already gaining attention for its potential sector-wide impact.
A group of students sat around a table working together with one student in a wheelchair

The Faculty of Science and Engineering partnering with the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business

The Engineering 4 Inclusion project is a week-long summer school designed for secondary school students who have faced exclusion or disadvantages in their educational journeys. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics (Faculty of Science and Engineering), and the ̽Ƶ Institute of Education (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business).
The program specifically targets students who may have experienced educational disadvantages stemming from various factors such as social or economic background, the impact of COVID-19, health issues, disabilities, ethnicity, gender, or other forms of diversity. These factors often lead to systemic and cultural inequalities that adversely affect academic progression and limit post-16 opportunities and career paths.
A significant aspect of the initiative is assessing the effectiveness of its educational strategies in promoting social inclusion among participants. This evaluation will help determine the impact of the program on improving academic engagement and future opportunities for those involved.
 

Faculty EDI Recognition Award – digital badges

We're excited to be part of the , an innovative, user-friendly, and cost-efficient online platform, committed to recognising what individuals achieve and accomplish outside of formal accredited qualifications, using digital badges to motivate learning and ambition.
As a powerful collective of employers, schools, colleges, training providers and informal educators, we have joined the movement to help individuals better tell their stories, rewarding the hard work of our students and staff with our bespoke ̽Ƶ Equality, Diversity and Inclusion digital badge, tailored to EDI initiatives within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business.
Digital badges are verifiable, portable, and shareable digital micro-credentials that help to set individuals and organisations apart from the crowd and can be shared on social media, websites, and CVs.

The Bridge

The Bridge acknowledges and embodies the idea that new ideas come from a diverse mix of thinking, background and life experience.
Building upon the ̽Ƶ’s commitment to providing an inclusive work environment, The Bridge seeks to enable knowledge exchange from within the university and beyond by creating a space where participants feel empowered to share their experiences and ideas by being their authentic self, and to create and share accessible and inclusive opportunities.
Atlantic project full bleed greyscale for The Bridge

Athena Swan within the Faculty

The Athena Swan Charter is a nationally recognised framework that aims to support and transform gender equality and representation within higher education and research. From student and staff recruitment, to representation at the most senior levels, the aim of the Athena Swan Award and action plan is to support change and enable gender-based equality.
All schools within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business have been conferred an Athena Swan Bronze Award.
Please use the links below to view each school’s Athena Swan submission document, including their five-year action plans.
Athena swan Gender Charter logo

Athena Swan submission documents

Women's safety resources

̽Ƶ and ̽Ƶ City Council initiatives for people who identify as a woman:

#ReclaimTheseStreets
The ̽Ƶ Student Union and the Women’s Network support the #ReclaimTheseStreets movement in making ̽Ƶ a safer place for all females.
The #ReclaimTheseStreets web page has important information relating to safety and support for women.
This includes:
University Support
  • Report abuse, harm or hate anonymously via Speak Up
  • Contact the Student Hub
  • Staff can access on domestic abuse and more
  • Students can visit our on domestic abuse
  • Students could also contact confidentially
  • Read the University’s Policy on responding to sexual violence and misconduct (SVM)

Support in ̽Ƶ
also offer free train travel for anyone travelling to refuge accommodation.
  • ̽Ƶ Refuge are available on 01752 562286
  • 24-hour helpline: 0808 2000 247
  • If you’ve been affected by abuse you can call on 0808 168 9111

Online Support
Only download and install apps if it is safe to do so and you are sure your mobile phone is not being monitored.
  • is a free-to-download mobile app, providing support and information to anyone who may be in an abusive relationship or those concerned about someone they know.
  • is a smartphone app which essentially transforms your smartphone into a personal safety device. All you need to do is shake your phone or tap the screen and you generate an alert, which automatically sends your location and audio/video evidence to your emergency contacts.

Safety in the City
̽Ƶ is consistently ranked in the top 10 safest cities in the UK.
We uphold a culture of safety on our campus through our supportive student services and fast-responding campus security teams.
Our close cooperation with the police and local initiatives means you can feel comfortable when out in the day or at night, confident that the right person will be there in case of an emergency or something you want to report.
Join us in strengthening a friendly and respectful relationship between students and local residents, keeping ̽Ƶ a real community to which everyone can belong.
For more information about staying safe on campus and in the city, visit our safety in the city page.
 

Resources

Faculty EDI contacts

View our past newsletters (PDF)