Equality Analysis

Our vision is to become ‘Inclusive Sussex’, where all members of our community have equal access to opportunities, experience the University as one that enables them to fully meet their potential, and supports them to make a full contribution to the University. Reducing inequalities and celebrating diversity allows us all to thrive.

Equality analysis, also known as Equality Impact Assessment, is one of the measures that helps us use evidence and informed judgement to evaluate whether a new or changed approach is likely to impact positively or negatively on different groups in the university community and to take action to reduce any unintended negative impacts before changes are made. Equality analysis also goes towards meeting our legal duty to consider equality in decision making to prevent discrimination, and to promote diversity and inclusivity.

The Equality Act 2010 legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society and requires public bodies to consider all individuals when carrying out their day-to-day work – in shaping policy, in delivering services and in relation to their own employees. The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) requires public authorities, in the exercise of their functions, to have due regard to the need to:

Eliminate discrimination
Advance equality of opportunity
Foster good relations between different people when carrying out their activities.

The University uses equality analysis as part of major projects and significant policy/business decisions. Equality analysis should be completed by the policy or project owner or a member of the team supporting them. To be completed effectively it requires a detailed understanding of the policy area and the proposed actions.

Guidance on equality analysis, how to conduct one effectively and the form for recording the analysis are provided below:

Training

Understanding Equality Analysis

You are encouraged to complete this online course alongside using the guidance. The course consists of 40 minutes of in-depth training with films, learner notes and quiz. It helps explain the importance of equality analysis in planning change in a workplace setting.

Any feedback on the guidance, form or training should be sent to edi.unit@sussex.ac.uk.

Record keeping

Equality analyses are core University records governed by the University’s Master Records Retention Schedule. For the purposes of University level records management compliance the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Unit will store the master record. Please email the agreed version to equalityanalysis@sussex.ac.uk.

Ensure the file name includes activity name, date of analysis and department, school or faculty responsible (set out as below).

e.g. Equality Analysis v1 Activity Name Department / School / Faculty 01012024

Please refer to the guidance document for further information about records management and ongoing storage considerations.