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EIA Scoping
An institution’s Outcome Agreement EIA team identifies through the analysis of data and evidence (including the institution’s PSED equality outcomes), that although there is an institutional equality outcome focused on achieving greater race equality, this has not previously been fully considered within widening access work.
In reviewing SFC and other regional data, it is clear there are possible negative impacts and poorer outcomes for specific ethnic groups but the previous institutional focus has been on looking at overall data for recruitment, retention and outcomes within a combined ‘BME’ student grouping and not considering outcomes for specific minority ethnic groups. This is partly linked to concerns about low data numbers and whether sufficiently robust data exists.
Assessment
The team considers opportunities to enhance race equality within widening access priorities and activity and decides to provide direction across this area of work. This is focused on ensuring that future activities include consideration of multiple factors relating to race equality, including greater attention to the breakdown of different minority ethnic groups but also to other linked intersectional factors such as gender, disability, care experience etc. as part of the assessment of experience and outcomes for different ethnicities.
Embedding
The decision to provide greater direction on this to teams delivering the widening access strategy and activities results in greater equality and mainstreaming of the intended institutional approach through:
- A more in-depth focus on race equality in widening access activities; the initiation of local and regional partnership discussions about race equality issues and intersectional considerations;
- Institutional conversations about a range of issues including data gathering processes; how contextual admissions are framed; consideration of employment outcomes and initiatives linked to widening access groups with a much more defined focus on race equality, intersectional issues and related outcomes; institutional processes to consider equality issues across functional work boundaries.
- A change in approach in relation to outreach activities in schools and colleges.
Monitoring and evaluation
- Through ongoing monitoring and evaluation, progress feeds back into both operational and institutional strategy review and development on equality priorities, progress and impact.
Benefits of using this approach:
- Addresses general duty requirements to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations.
- Supports institutional equality outcome aims and a PSED mainstreaming approach.
- Addresses specific SFC requirements and evidences focus and progress on general equality linked to PSED requirements, race equality, widening access, and outcomes.
- Positively enhances institutional widening access strategy aims.
- Supports a best practice and more integrated institutional approach to equality.