The Open University has developed and published nine institution-wide equality objectives for the priorities we have identified for the period 2012 - 2016, all of which are specific and have measurable outcomes.

Our objectives help us to meet our statutory equality duties and they support our business strategy and our social justice mission.

There are objectives for both students and staff and relate to the individual equality characteristics of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, caring responsibilities, gender identity and community background in Northern Ireland.

You can read details of the University’s equality objectives, the key performance indicators, accountability and information about how we developed the objectives here:

March 2012

Following the highly successful pilot programme in 2011, the Aspire~ leadership mentoring programme has been expanded to 20 mentee places in 2012, and this year includes staff self-identifying as ethnic minority or disabled. The Aspire~ programme aims to improve the experience of minority staff, supporting career development and progression through monthly meetings with their mentors and development workshops. The mentors are senior staff from faculties and units across the University with a combined wealth of leadership and mentoring experience.

A new programme, Aspire~ Plus has been introduced in 2012 for the staff who participated in last year's Aspire~ programme, to build on their leadership competencies through a self-directed approach.

Both Aspire~ programmes are sponsored by the Director of Human Resources and championed by the Vice-Chancellor.

February 2012

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month takes place every year in February. It celebrates the lives and achievements of LGBT people.

This year for the second year running LGBT History Month is focusing on sport.
Did you know that the OU has a Foundation Degree in Sports and Fitness, and it addresses issues of difference and inclusion?
Did you know that the OU has an LGBT Network for staff?
Did you know that the OU Students Association has a forum for GLB&T students?

To find out more about LGBT history month, visit the national website.

The second ever UK Disability History Month took place between 22 November and 22 December 2011. This was an opportunity to celebrate the struggles and achievements of disabled people, to create a better understanding of the barriers in society which disabled people face and to help develop campaigning activity on what needs to be changed to enable disabled people to achieve equality in all areas of life.

As part of this celebration, the OU UCU branch, the OU Equality and Diversity Team and the OU Disabled Staff Network held a jointly sponsored meeting on Monday 28 November 2011. The main speaker was Richard Rieser, a long time campaigner on disability issues who is the Co-ordinator of UK Disability History Month.

There was also be brief presentations on how the OU is advancing disability equality and on the role of the Disabled Staff Network.

This event was broadcast live webcast on the Berrill Stadium website. Follow this link to watch it again:

22 September 2011

The 2011/12 Equality Action plan produced by staff in faculties, units, regions and nations is now complete and is published on Equality and Diversity’s Equality Schemes page.

Many positive equality actions are already underway across the University, and together with the considerable number of innovations planned for the year ahead this new action plan highlights the continued commitment of staff to advancing equality of opportunity for our students and staff despite increased pressure on resources.

24 June 2011

The OU reviewed the performance of its current Equality Scheme and started work on shaping objectives and how they will be measured, for inclusion in its next Equality Scheme to be published by April 2012, at the ‘development day’ event of the University’s Equality and Diversity Management Group on 24 June 2011.

Once again, Fraser Woodburn the University Secretary, Will Swann the Director, Students, and Nigel Holt, the Director Human Resources joined a dozen members and other colleagues, drawn from highly-equality relevant areas from across the University at this annual event, to take stock, assess progress and shape future priority objectives to advance equality at the University.

15 December 2010

The Black and Minority Ethnic staff network had a very successful re-launch with the introduction of Aspire~, a new leadership mentoring scheme for ethnic minority staff. Martin Bean, Vice-Chancellor of the OU welcomed participants to this lunchtime event in Milton Keynes. Professor Geoff Palmer OBE gave the key-note address. The opportunity to network was taken, and over 50 participants came to learn more about this innovative project.