Equality and Diversity cluster

Cluster lead: Georgina Andrews director of Southampton Business School 

The Equality Research Cluster is a multidisciplinary team of collaborative researchers who share a common commitment to equality and diversity. The cluster encompasses researchers drawn from two faculties, FBSE and FMAS, and from the University Research and Information Unit (RIU).

Members of the Equality Research Cluster have been closely monitoring the progress of the Equality Act 2010 since its inception. We have focused, in particular, on the impact of the Act on education providers and employers. In addition to the usual academic outputs such as conference papers and journal articles, we have also drawn on our professional and educational experience to collaborate with further education colleges, employers and colleagues within the higher education sector. We have successfully facilitated a series of workshops, briefings and events on the Equality Act, and on embedding equality and diversity into the heart of education.

The Cluster now intends to widen it’s scope to include equality and diversity issues which extend beyond the provisions of the Equality Act, such as the removal of the default retirement age.

Research undertaken by the equality research cluster will underpin teaching on undergraduate, postgraduate and professional courses including the LLB (Hons), the MA Human Resource Management, ILEX, CPP and CIPD. It will feed directly into the curriculum of discrimination law, employment law and human resource management units.

The Equality Act 2010 is not confined to discrimination arising through employment. Housing, the provision of goods and services, education and public procurement are also impacted by the legislation. Research undertaken by the equality research cluster will thus also inform marketing, housing, business, commissioning and educational courses.

The close links with employers which are being developed by the cluster will enrich student learning opportunities through work placement opportunities and student consultancy projects.

Recent outputs/ publications

Journal articles:

• Andrews, G; Gough, S; Nardone, M. (2010) ‘Promoting Equality and Learning in the Workplace’ [2010] International Journal of Diversity in Organisations, Communities and Nations, Vol 10, 127. ISSN 1447-9532
• Andrews, G (2010) ‘Plotting the Boundaries of Associative Discrimination’ [2010] European Business Law Review 573.
• Nardone, M. (2010) ‘The Right to be Different.’ [2010] The Legal Executive. Apr, 40-41.
• Andrews, G. (2007) ‘The Presumption of Advancement: Equity, Equality and Human Rights.’ [2007] 71 Conv 398.

Conference papers:

• Andrews, G and Gibson, P: ‘Penguins, peacocks and pairs’ Higher Education Academy / Equality Challenge Unit conference, Promoting Inclusive Change, Greenwich, July 2011.
• Andrews ,G: ‘Challenging Equitable Ownership when Equity is Not Equality’ Socio Legal Studies Association Annual Conference, Brighton, April 2011.
• Gough, S . ‘Equality Act 2010 What has changed for disability?’ National Association of Disability Practitioners (NADP) Annual Conference, Warwickshire, June 2011.
• Andrews, G; Gough, S; Nardone, M. ‘Promoting Equality and Learning in the Workplace’ International Conference on Diversity in Organisations, Communities and Nations, Belfast, July 2010.
• McLellan, R. ‘Reducing the gaps: How can we enable the white working class young male?’ Forum for Access and Continuing Education Annual Conference (FACE) Southampton, June 2010.
• McLellan, R. ‘Reducing the gaps: How to engage white working class young men?’
  Centre for Widening Participation - working for Social Justice in HE, Milton Keynes, June 2010
• Reynolds, R; Pervin, S. ‘Employers, Equalities and Higher Education’ International Educational Innovation in Economics and Business Conference, London, June 2010.

Employer engagement activities and events:

New:

• 2011 professional development workshop for Peter Symonds College.
• 2011 Series of professional development workshops for Taunton’s College of Further Education senior managers and Governors ‘Embedding Equality and Diversity’.
• 2010 Professional development seminar for employers on the Equality Act 2010 hosted by Island Training,
• Isle of Wight Further Education College, ‘Are you October Ready?’
• 2010 Solent Enterprise Centre: Business and Professional Development event ‘The Equality Act 2010: Evening Reception for Employers’.
• 2010 Breakfast Briefing for Employers at Solent Enterprise Centre: Business and Professional Development. ‘The Equality Act 2010: Are Employers Ready?’

Selection of recent testimonials for the SSU Equality Research Cluster:

• ‘Authoritative, good clear examples, participatory’ – Principal, Taunton’s College of Further Education
• ‘Dynamic workshop, clearly experts in the field’ – Deputy Principal, Taunton’s College of Further Education
• ‘The workshop helped us to explore strategies for embedding equality in the curriculum, challenging stereotypes within the curriculum - we need to engage the whole college in this initiative’ – Taunton’s College staff
• 'Excellent interactive approach' – Peter Symonds College staff
• 'Clear, engaging, fun' – Peter Symonds College staff
• 'Interactive, relevant to organisation' Peter Symonds College staff
• ‘Excellent, interesting, informative’ – Isle of Wight College of Further Education
• ‘In depth knowledge of presenters, literature and Q & A key strengths’ – Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners
• ‘Clear delivery, excellent exposition of the cases to allow understanding at the right level. Professional.’ – IPC Consultants
• ‘Knowledgeable presenters’ – Business Link
• ‘Good quality information delivered by highly competent staff’ – Isle of Wight Rural County Council
• ‘In depth knowledge from presenters’ – Neutrick (UK) Ltd
• ‘Enthusiastic and knowledgeable presenters, varied learning materials, interesting case law examples, clear visual aids’ – Governor of Taunton’s College of Further Education
• ‘Clear and succinct’ – Queen Mary’s College of Further Education
• ‘Clarity and willingness to expand on points are key strengths’ Regents Park Community College

In addition to academic outputs, the Equality Research Cluster will continue to draw on our professional, educational and marketing expertise within the Cluster to collaborate with employers and Further Education colleges. We can offer tailor-made accredited or unaccredited short courses, workshops, briefings and events on equality and diversity issues such as: embedding equality and diversity into the curriculum; responding to new statutory obligations; and strategies for responding to the abolition of the default retirement age.

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