David Ruebain, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Culture, Equality & Inclusion)

Today, 5 May 2022, David Ruebain, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Culture, Equality & Inclusion), sent an update to all staff. You can read the update below:

Dear colleague,

I wanted to share a brief update on our culture, equality and inclusion focus areas for this month:

Staff survey and Athena SWAN

I do hope that you have been able to take a few minutes to complete the staff survey and share your thoughts on working at Sussex. For this one we are focusing on equality, diversity and inclusion, alongside senses of belonging, and your responses will very much support the work we are doing in these areas. The more people who respond, the more data we have to help build our understanding and of where there are challenges here at Sussex. The online survey is open until 13 May, and all responses are confidential, so please do make sure you have your say.

Seven Athena SWAN questions have also been included in the staff survey, and the data from these will be available to Schools for Athena SWAN submissions.

I am delighted that Prof. Kelly Coate, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students, is now chairing our Athena SWAN Institutional Self-Assessment Team, continuing to drive this forward following the good work of previous chair, Prof. Miguel Maravall.

Antiracism and Union Black

Thank you to everyone who has registered for the Santander Union Black online course over the past few months. Personally, I found it compelling and if you have already registered you still have time to complete it. Taking part is key to achieving our Antiracist Sussex aims. All of our University Executive Group members have begun the training, and those who have now completed it have also spoken enthusiastically of it.

Religion and belief forum

At Sussex we have a number of SATs (Self-Assessment Teams) relating to specific protected characteristics to drive the work of our charters and systemic change programmes and to help shape policy and procedures. We are now introducing a Religion and Belief forum, to help with the work to consider and address under-representation and disadvantage for this protected characteristic and also to provide pro-active support.

We would like to involve staff and students with a wide range of perspectives. If you may be interested in participating, please do express your interest by emailing the EDI Unit (edi.unit@sussex.ac.uk) who are co-ordinating the Forum. Expressions of interest will close on 26 May.

Deaf Awareness Week

Deaf Awareness Week took place this week, highlighting issues around Deaf inclusion. We are committed to supporting our Deaf and hearing loss staff and students, and a staff and student working group led by Claire Smith, Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor Education and Innovation, recently reviewed different options to improve captioning and so enhance the learning experience. You can read more about the group and explore the guidance and practical advice that they have developed.

Student interview

One of our students, Jethro Reeve recently interviewed me about my role at Sussex. We had a very interesting discussion about a range of topics relating to equality, diversity and inclusion. If you are interested, you can watch the video via this link.

Coming up:

Mental Health Awareness Week: 9 - 15 May

The focus of the campaign this year is loneliness, something that has impacted so many people, especially during the pandemic. I wanted to share a reminder of the support and resources available on our wellbeing webpages. You can also find useful information and links to further learning about mental health on the OD webpages.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day: 19 May

Digital access and inclusion is vitally important for us at Sussex and Global Accessibility Awareness Day is a great opportunity to remind ourselves of the ways we can make sure that our online learning and resources are usable for all students and staff but especially those who are disabled and who have impairments such as specific learning differences. Please do take a look at the Technology Enhanced Learning webpages for information, tools and resources.

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month - June

Next month I have been asked to open an event which focuses on access to education for Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller (GRT) students. It will explore themes around learners from a GRT background in education; while the multi-media project looks at representation, cultural, and academic discussion.

The session will be held at the ACCA on 28 June and will have a programme of events organised by the Widening Participation team, including performance, music, film, awareness training opportunities, exhibition, journalism workshops around representation, and information tables.

Current students, academics, practitioners, school students, local authorities, the local community, and NGOs (non-governmental organisations) have had input into shaping the event, which is primarily for academic teaching staff and students. You’ll hear more about it in the coming weeks.

With good wishes,

David Ruebain
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Culture, Equality & Inclusion)