EDI Report 2023-24

Northumbria Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) report across the academic year 2023-24.

Equality Diversity and Inclusion Annual Report 2023-2024 – Some Words From Andy Long, our Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive

I am delighted to present our EDI Annual Report 2023-2024.

At Northumbria University we have bold ambitions which we have set out in our University Strategy 2030. Our Strategic Ambitions are underpinned by five commitments, one of which is directly related to EDI, where we have committed to creating an environment which promotes fairness in a community where all staff and students feel like they belong. This is important to us: through that sense of belonging everyone can achieve their ambitions and be enabled to be their best.

This Commitment informs our approach to our people, including each stage of the staff and student journey from recruitment to retention, development, and progression. We aim to have a diverse workforce, including more colleagues from under-represented groups at middle and senior management levels. We aim to understand the needs of individuals and to remove any unnecessary barriers for staff and students, adopting an inclusive approach across all our activities.

I am delighted to say that year on year I see evidence of true commitment to inclusion at Northumbria, which continues to put people at the heart of what we do. As Vice-Chancellor I fully support the development and promotion of a culture and an environment where people feel safe and that they belong, and that people are supported to reach their potential. We want to be a University that is recognised for being passionate about being an inclusive community.

Whilst Northumbria recognises and responds to our legislative duties, which is evidenced throughout this report, as a University we are committed to the compelling moral case for equality and strive to create a community that positively welcomes diversity, and that inclusion is at the heart of everything we do.

Some of the work that is undertaken right across the University is detailed throughout this report, which I am sure will give you insight into how serious we are about embedding inclusion into our everyday practice. As we look to the future, we will continue our commitment to ensure that Northumbria is a fair and inclusive place to work and study.