Northumbria University is proud to be a multi-cultural community and has a particularly strong reputation for EDI. It is one of the few universities in the country to combine research power with an excellent widening participation agenda (40% of all NU students coming from low participation neighbourhoods and this mission substantially underpinned our THES award of University of the Year in 2022). We value diversity and are determined to ensure that the opportunities we provide are open to all. In the University’s Vision 2025 and Corporate Strategy 2018 – 2023 we commit to providing an environment in which diversity is valued and respected, where there is equal access to opportunities and in which all prospective and existing staff and students are treated fairly, with equity and dignity.

Northumbria University supports various Staff Equality Networks which have been established to provide an opportunity for colleagues to connect, socialise, and find support, as well as to share experiences and exchange knowledge. They encourage discussion and increase staff involvement in improving equality, diversity, and inclusion at the University. Some of the networks are as follows: (1) LGBTQ Staff Network (2) Northumbria Women’s Network (3) BAME Staff Network (4) Disabled Staff Network (5) Parents and Carers Network. Northumbria also hosts programmes informing access and participation of BAME students (Pro:NE, OfS), improving experiences and outcomes for BAME female PGRs (Generation Delta, OfS) and evaluating effectiveness of current EDI practices (EDI Caucus, UKRI+). The University also participates in frameworks such as the Race Equality Charter, Athena Swan, Disability Confident Employer, and work toward becoming a University of Sanctuary. All staff undertake training in i) Unconscious Bias, ii) Equality and Diversity, iii) Racial Bias and iv) Allyship and Active Bystander. Staff have access to a range of EDI toolkits (e.g., for Managers of Disabled Staff, Inclusive Leadership, Inclusive Language and Communication) and Northumbria’s EDI team also run an Amplifying Inclusion seminar series.

The VC Diversity and Inclusion Fund, an internal funding scheme, was established in 2019 to encourage staff and student engagement with the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion agenda at the University. Each year, the fund offers small grants (up to £5,000) to initiatives that increase awareness of issues related to equality, diversity and inclusion, tackle discrimination and marginalisation, enhance the representation of under- represented groups, and facilitate implementation of good practice at Northumbria University. Over the last three years, NU has invested in EDI Monitoring and Evaluation – collecting EDI data from staff and students that goes well beyond government and OfS reporting requirements. Our expectation is that staff will go above and beyond regulatory requirements and be ambassadors for EDI within the wider community and fully engage with consultation processes such as the current New Deal for PGRs.