Equality scheme and objectives
The Equality Scheme and Equality Objectives 2012 - 2016
Our vision is to create an inclusive university community and a society where people are treated with dignity and respect, where inequalities are challenged, and where we anticipate and respond positively to different needs and circumstances, so that everyone can achieve their potential.
The Open University equality scheme aims to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation, to promote and advance equality of opportunity, and to promote and foster good relations between people. The scheme incorporates the following characteristics and circumstances: age, care and dependency, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, political opinion, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
The scheme is currently published as an interim version as we are awaiting its approval by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Annex E of the full scheme sets out the legal requirements and how this scheme will meet them. However, until such time as we have received approval, our current scheme for Northern Ireland is the 2003 version published separately on this website.
Our current equality objectives, first published in April 2012, are now subsumed under Appendix 1 and our equality action plan is at Appendix 2. Appendix 3 and 4 contain a list of resources, teams and named individuals that can support staff in delivering their equality responsibilities. These are published on the staff intranet only.
Appendix 1 - Equality objectives 2012-2016 (216KB)
Appendix 2 - Equality action plan 2012/13 (505KB)
Appendix 5 - Timetable for measures and consultation list for functions in Northern Ireland (62KB)
OU Equality and Diversity Scheme 2012-2016 Consultation Report (Jan 2013) (470KB)
Word versions:
Appendix 1 - equality objectives 2012/13 (2.6MB)
Appendix 2 - Equality action plan 2012/13 (1.2MB)
Appendix 5 - Timetable for measures and consultation list for functions in Northern Ireland (93KB)
OU Equality and Diversity Scheme 2012-2016 Consultation Report (Jan 2013) (449KB)