Here at Durham, we’re home to people from all backgrounds and identities doing extraordinary things. It's our people who make Durham University what it is.
Our ambition is to continue growing a team that reflects the diversity of the regional, national, and international communities that we serve. However, we know that change is a long process, and that we’re not yet where we want to be.
To support us on our journey, we’ve launched a number of key initiatives to help us to embed equality, diversity and inclusion across our University. We’re focused on building a fair, inclusive and respectful place where our people feel supported and valued. It’s a workplace where anyone, from anywhere, can support each other to thrive.
Our inclusive culture statement (which is now part of our Core Lived Values) supports everyone in working towards the equality, diversity and inclusion strategic framework:
“Together we celebrate difference, value one another and are each responsible for creating a university community that is respectful and fair for all”.
Find out more here: EDI at Durham
We joined the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme in 2013. It’s the UK’s leading forum for discussing and celebrating sexual orientation, gender identity, equality, diversity and inclusion at work. Over 700 organisations work with Stonewall through the Diversity Champions programme, and we’re proud to be playing our part by creating a working environment where everyone can be their authentic selves.
The University was awarded a bronze institutional Athena SWAN award, in addition to the departmental awards we’ve already gained. A number of departments also have the silver award.
We recognise that we have made progress against the Athena SWAN principles and values, but we realise that there is still more to do, and we’re currently working towards achieving this.
The University is signed up to the Race Equality Charter (REC). Our membership has helped us to identify, reflect upon and address institutional and cultural barriers that stand in the way of our racially minoritised staff and students.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we’re helping to change behaviours, cultures and attitudes towards disabled people. And we’re committed to making sure working at Durham is a positive experience, beginning with our inclusive recruitment practices.
We’ve designed our equality objectives to help us tackle inequalities and build diversity and inclusion across our University. Our objectives are to:
We want to tackle discipline-specific gender imbalances in student and staff groups, including reducing the gender pay gap.
We want to increase our number of students from disadvantaged groups, and improve the way we recruit, support, and progress BAME academic and professional staff.
We want to foster an accessible, inclusive, and respectful learning, teaching, and research environment.
Read more about our equality objectives.
We’re committed to helping everyone who works here feel safe and comfortable, and we prioritise the health and wellbeing of all of our colleagues. That includes providing support to those who are disabled or who have a physical or mental health condition.
Read more about the support we offer.
We’re here to help everyone learn - and that includes our people. Our comprehensive EDI learning and development programme is one of our key drivers for change, and some of our areas for development include the following programmes: -
We demonstrate our core lived values through our RVB learning and development programme to promote a respectful and inclusive work environment.
We provide an accessible, inclusive, and respectful learning, teaching, and research environment and deliver an unconscious bias workshop to support our work in this area.
We are building a diverse and inclusive university community that is respectful and fair for all.
We work towards removing discipline-specific gender imbalances in student and staff groups, including reducing the gender pay gap.
We offer our staff and students the opportunity to access over 40 self-directed e-learning micro courses. More than 20 of those have an EDI focus.
We are embedding an accessible, inclusive, and respectful learning, teaching, and research environment.
We believe that people are happier, enjoy their work more and perform better when they’re part of a respectful and inclusive environment.
Our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Network provides a voice for BAME staff in the University.
Our Disability Network creates a supportive space where issues affecting staff with disabilities can be discussed.
Our First Generation Network celebrates and promotes the achievements of first generation staff and helps members reach their full potential.
Our LGBT+ Network is open to anyone with an interest in LGBT+ issues.
Our MAMS Network provides support and fosters a more family-friendly environment for mothers and expectant mothers at the University.
Women@DU brings together staff from across Durham University who identify as women, to share experiences, opportunities and knowledge.
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