Equality Objectives 2025 - 2029

Our equality objectives help us to strengthen existing initiatives and align with actions planned to tackle inequalities and build diversity and inclusion across the university. Our objectives/aims are to: 

• Create the cultural conditions for inclusion for both staff and students and ensure we have the right leadership attributes to enable this to be realised. 
• Increase our diversity at all levels by growing representation of under-represented groups and the opportunities available to members of those groups. 
• Enhance a sense of belonging and community in our staff and students.
• Continually improve our approach to EDI so it is responsive and evolves according to the needs of our staff and students.

What are Equality objectives? 

The University is subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty which requires public bodies to have 'due regard' to: 

• eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 
• advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it, and 
• foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it. 

Part of this duty is the review and publication of institutional equality objectives every four years. This provides the opportunity to link the equality, diversity, and inclusion actions that are underway at different levels at the University and establish priorities to guide a whole-system approach that resonates with the institutional values of being challenging, responsible, and enabling. 

Strategic context 

The objectives challenge the organisation to perform better on equality issues in key areas and improve the experience of people from underrepresented groups. Priorities reflect the needs of staff and students and support the strategic plans of the University. The objectives are based on robust evidence, and rendered measurable over time, to mitigate risk, map changes, and support action. 

The objectives, alongside broadened metrics, have been developed according to evidence drawn from ongoing EDI work within the university, a review of key equality issues across UK higher education institutions and an analysis of Durham specific inequalities and contextual factors. They relate to specific areas of inequality, and a broader commitment to embedding equality and developing a culture of respect.