David Ruebain, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Culture, Equality and Inclusion) wrote to all staff on Tuesday 21 January. You can read his message in full:

Dear Colleague,

This month, I’m talking about:

• New Access and Participation Plan from summer 2025
• Improving the University experience for disabled students 
• RIDE HIGHER national disability survey – share your views by 31 January
• Holocaust Memorial Day, 27 January
• In Conversation with Gary Younge, 10 February
• Staff networks and EDI Champions help shape inclusion at Sussex
• International Women’s Day 2025 portrait exhibition
• Reciprocal mentoring scheme to be launched with University of Ghana
• Art installation by Topher Campbell at the Tate Modern until 26 January

New Access and Participation Plan from summer 2025 

The University’s new Access and Participation Plan (2025-26 to 2028-29) outlines how we will continue to support people in underrepresented groups to access, succeed in and progress from higher education. Building on the work underway with our current plan, it sets out how Sussex will promote equality of opportunity for underrepresented students. The plan focuses on three key areas: mitigating socioeconomic barriers, reducing ethnicity-based awarding gaps, and supporting students’ mental health and wellbeing. Alongside new objectives to support underrepresented groups, our whole-provider approach has been strengthened with support from teams right across the University.

If you would like to learn more, you can join a lunchtime in-person workshop exploring the impact of the class divide on students on Thursday 6 February. This is part of our series of events on the themes in our new Access and Participation Plan.

Improving the University experience for disabled students  

As mentioned briefly in my update in September, the University is undergoing a Reasonable Adjustments Review. This is part of our ongoing work to build an inclusive learning environment where all students can thrive, and in response to student feedback. The review will inform actions to help improve our reasonable adjustment processes and is due to be completed in July 2025. It covers five areas — processes, policy, teaching, assessments and off-campus learning experiences (such as field trips) — and aligns with work in other areas including through the Curriculum Reimagined project and the Disability, Equality and Inclusion Steering Group. The review will also support our new, broader Dignity, Respect and Inclusion Policy.

Staff across the University are working together with the Students’ Union on the review, including colleagues in Student Support and Wellbeing, Educational Enhancement, Academic Quality and Partnerships, and Estates, as well as academic and Professional Services colleagues in Faculties. If you would like to find out more, please contact Jo McKinney-Green at: j.mckinney-green@sussex.ac.uk or Graeme Pedlingham at: g.g.pedlingham@sussex.ac.uk.

RIDE HIGHER national disability survey – share your views by 31 January

In my last update I mentioned that staff are invited to take part in a survey by the National Association of Disabled Staff Networks. The survey, which closes on 31 January, seeks to hear the experiences of staff in higher education who identify as disabled, neurodivergent or living with a long-term health condition or chronic illness. Open to those working in academic, research, technical support and professional services roles, and postgraduate researchers, the survey supports the development of RIDE HIGHER (Realising the Inclusion of Disabled Employees in Higher Education) framework which will help drive greater equity for disabled colleagues. Please do consider participating.

Holocaust Memorial Day, 27 January

Holocaust Memorial Day takes place this year on Monday 27 January, remembering the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of people of other groups. Our annual Holocaust Memorial Day event, on Wednesday 5 February, is now fully booked but a livestream will be available. There will also be a Remembering the Roma Holocaust exhibition, including a film screening, on Friday 7 February. Find out more on our webpages.

In Conversation with Gary Younge, 10 February

Also focusing on experiences of those in Nazi Germany, we have Professor Gary Younge, award-winning author, broadcaster and professor of Sociology, joining our next Inclusive Sussex: In Conversation event on Monday 10 February. Gary will be discussing what the experiences of Black Germans in Nazi Germany tell us about systems of racial oppression, and his talk will be followed by a panel discussion. This event also supports our project to surface understandings of different forms of racism and religious discrimination. Please do book your place and I look forward to seeing some of you there.

Staff networks and EDI Champions help shape inclusion at Sussex

We have a number of staff networks and EDI Champions that play a vital role in our work towards building an inclusive Sussex.

Our staff networks, supported by the EDI Unit, help colleagues to connect with others, take part in events and activities, and promote awareness. They are also an important way for a wide range of staff voices to be heard, sharing feedback about the barriers staff can face, and working collaboratively with the University to shape policies that support inclusion. EDI Champions represent each School and Professional Services Division, sharing information, raising awareness of EDI issues that may need action, and helping promote a culture of dignity and respect. Find out more about our staff networks and EDI Champions across the University.

International Women’s Day 2025 portrait exhibition

International Women's Day (IWD) celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The theme for 2025 is ‘AccelerateAction’, calling for increased urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both personally and professionally. A photo portrait exhibition at the Library in March will showcase the diverse contributions of women Early Career Researchers (ECR) at Sussex, highlighting their achievements, inspiring others and helping to promote gender equality. Staff are invited to take part by sharing their stories and insights alongside a portrait which will be taken by the University photographer. You can view portraits from IWD last year on our University webpages.

Reciprocal mentoring scheme to be launched with University of Ghana

I’m very pleased to announce that we have recently been awarded a British Council Grant to establish a cross-cultural, reciprocal mentoring scheme with the University of Ghana. The project is led by Professor Sarah Guthrie (University of Sussex) and Professor Deborah Atobrah (University of Ghana). This scheme aims to foster gender equality through international, cross-cultural understanding and to address barriers to leadership for women and minorities. Participants will form partnerships with a colleague at the University of Ghana to exchange perspectives and co-learn in a mutually supportive environment.

Whereas conventional mentoring involving one senior and one more junior colleague may reinforce hierarchies, reciprocal mentoring is a partnership of co-learning equals. The cross-cultural dimension will deepen understanding of the personal, professional and cultural perspective and context of individuals and their career journeys. The scheme is open to women academics, members of Professional Services and technical staff. A formal invitation to participate will be circulated soon; for an informal conversation about the scheme please contact Sarah Guthrie at: s.guthrie@sussex.ac.uk.

Art installation by Topher Campbell at the Tate Modern until 26 January

In 2005, Topher Campbell, artist and Sussex alum, launched the rukus! archive dedicated to collecting artistic, social and cultural histories related to Black Queer communities. His rukus! archive installation at the Tate Modern is open until 26 January 2025 and I strongly encourage you to visit if you can. Topher has been involved in our Black at Sussex programme since its launch in 2022. Black at Sussex aims to improve the experience of Black students and staff at Sussex by celebrating Black alumni and collaborating with Black-owned businesses.

With good wishes, 

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

Recent events

• World Religion Day, 19 January

Coming up

• LGBT+ History Month, 1-28 February
• World Interfaith Harmony Week, 1-7 February
• Race Equality Week, 3-9 February

Religious days and observances:

• Imbolc (Pagan), 1 February
• Candelmas (Christian), 2 February
• Hehan-e (Buddhist), 15 February
• Ramadan (Islamic), 28 February-30 March

Further information about upcoming awareness days will be shared on the Staff Hub.

This work supports the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal: SDG 10 (reduced inequalities). You can read more about our work on the SDGs.