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We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our work environment is welcoming, diverse and inclusive for students, researchers and staff.

18 photos of EP students in triptych © Sigune Hamann

We're committed to fostering an inclusive culture that promotes equality, values diversity, and creates a working, learning and social environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. These values are at the heart of our work and we are fully committed to removing barriers to equality to ensure that all of our staff and students can flourish and achieve their personal and professional goals.

The following provides a snapshot of our endeavours, including:

  • having an active Diversity and Inclusion Working Group, made up of a cross section of staff and students in our Department. The Working Group's remit is to inform policy, flag concerns, celebrate achievements/projects and raise awareness of all aspects of EDI;
  • recognising advancement of gender equality, representation, progression and success for all. In recognition of the steps we have taken to establish good practice in recruiting, retaining and promoting women in higher education, for example, our department was awarded the Athena SWAN Silver Award in 2015 and 2021. Find out who’s on our Athena SWAN Committee;
  • improving diversity of staff and students and ensuring staff from minority groups feel welcome and supported in the department;
  • promoting a family-friendly working environment, equal opportunities and career development. See the Supporting Our Staff page for more information;
  • supporting our LGBT+ staff. Our LGBTQ+ Rep acts as a point of contact for staff and students, flagging any issues and concerns that affect our LGBTQ+ community;
  • doubling the number of Bullying and Harassment Advisors in the Department to make sure everyone has someone to talk to;
  • improving induction processes so new members of staff and students feel welcomed, integrated and supported, and have all the information they need;
  • maintaining gender balance of speakers invited to the department and asking them to provide a short summary of their career pathways to showcase the diversity of routes into and through academia; and
  • improving participation of women and individuals from under-represented groups in seminar discussions.

Other Resources

The University of Oxford’s Equality and Diversity Unit provides useful information and resources relating to disability, gender, race, religion/belief, sexual orientation and gender identity.