Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Structure and governance
We are focused on building an inclusive culture – different voices, one community – that makes a positive difference to the lives and experiences of our students and staff.
We know there is work to be done, but we are determined to create a community based on dignity and respect where everyone is able to thrive and reflect our University values to be ambitious, open and responsible.
Our three objectives are:
- To build a positive, inclusive culture that inspires staff and students to realise their potential.
- To work towards fair representation and fair outcomes for our staff and student communities.
- To develop a robust understanding of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) data to effect sound evidence-based decision making.
We have a new EDI Framework and EDI Governance Structure in place to help us achieve our objectives, which includes providing a greater voice to our staff and student networks and a new steering group with more senior leadership from across the University to drive forward the changes needed.
We also work collaboratively with organisations including Stonewall Diversity Champions, Working Families, Mindful Employer, AccessAble, Disability Confident and Advance HE (including the Athena SWAN and Race Equality Charters), which provide guidance and advice on equality, diversity and inclusion.
Report and Support
Our Report and Support tool is available to report any issue of harassment, bullying, hate or violence involving or affecting someone who is a member of the University community. Issues can be made anonymously and by witnesses as well as those who have experienced issues – we want every incident to be recorded, and to ensure that everyone gets the right support.
Staff networks
Our Staff Networks are run by and for staff. Through the networks, our staff use their voice to inform and promote University policy.
Those involved in the networks share guidance and resources, and propose and decide on actions to improve our University culture.
All our networks are strengthened by a commitment to addressing gender-based inequality.
Our Staff Networks include:
- LGBTQ Staff network
- Women's Staff Network
- Parent and Carer Staff Network
- Disability Staff Network
- Multicultural Staff Network
- Neurodiverse Staff Network
- Race Equality Supporters Network
- Harassment Advisers Network
Equality Charters and Schemes
As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, we hold university-level bronze awards for two national Advance HE Equality Charters – Athena SWAN and the Race Equality Charter. These awards recognise our commitment to building a positive and inclusive culture, enable us to continue to provide an honest assessment of equality, diversity and inclusion at the University, and identify good practice and actions we need to take to continue to improve and drive this forward.
Athena SWAN Charter
Since 2014, we have held a university-level Athena SWAN Bronze Award, recognising our commitment to gender equality. In addition, 11 of our Schools and Faculties hold Athena SWAN Bronze awards in their own right.
For further information, please contact us at charters@port.ac.uk.
Race Equality Charter
In 2021, we achieved our Race Equality Charter Bronze Award as a result of as a result of our commitment to uplifting our Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff and students.
We aim to build a culture of openness and trust that allows for honest reflection and difficult conversations about race and acknowledges that racial inequalities exist.
We are one of 20 UK universities to be awarded the bronze Race Equality Charter award. No university has a silver or gold award, showing that universities across the country have much to do to tackle racial inequalities.
For further information, please contact us at charters@port.ac.uk.
Stonewall Diversity Champions
As part of our work to create an inclusive workplace for all LGBTQ+ staff, we’re members of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme. And we actively extend the same values to our students through our policies and standards, local sponsorships and support for University and local LGBTQ+ support groups and networks.
Find out more about LGBTQ+ equality at Portsmouth for resources, events, support groups, reporting procedures and policies.
AccessAble
Since 2015, the University has partnered with AccessAble (formerly DisabledGo) to support staff, students and visitors to arrive and move around our campus and buildings. University of Portsmouth Access Guides are available (please select the ‘Access Guides’ tab to then ‘view all access guides’).
Equality and diversity policies and reports
A selection of our equality, diversity and inclusion-related policies, data and reports include:
- Equality and Diversity Policy Statement
- Equality Impact Analysis Guidance
- Dignity and Respect Policy Framework
- Disability Guidance
- Gender Identity and Expression Policy
- Faith and Belief Policy
- Student Charter and Undergraduate Hallmarks
- Access and Participation Plan 2020–25
Published staff and student equality data reports
The public sector duty of the Equality Act 2010 requires public sector organisations to publish equality information and gender pay gap reports annually.
View our Gender Pay Gap Reports, including the current report.
Below you will find a summary of key student and staff EDI related data. This, as well as more detailed data analysis, is used to inform our equality impacts and helps support other aspects of our equality, diversity and inclusion work and priorities.
More detailed data, including international student information, is available in the ‘Annual EDI Staff and Student Data Reports'. These reports are available upon request.
Undergraduate student equality data (Home/EU) 2019–20
- Gender: Male 53.7%; Female 46.3%
- Ethnicity: White 67.0%; BAME 26.5% (of which, Asian 10.2%; Black 8.9%; Chinese 0.6%; Mixed 4.9%; Other 1.9%); 6.4% undisclosed
- Disability: 80.9% no disability declared; 18.9% with a disability; 0.2% undisclosed
- Age, on starting course: 89.8% aged under 25; 10.2% aged 25 or older
- Gender: Male 6.4%; Female 4.5%
- Ethnicity: White 5.5%; BAME 5.8% (of which, Asian 5.0%; Black 6.2%; Chinese 3.6%; Mixed 6.2%; Other 8.2%)
- Disability: 5.3% no disability declared; 6.4% with a disability
- Age, on starting course: 5.2% aged under 25; 8.5% aged 25 or older
- Gender: Male 79.0%; Female 84.5%
- Ethnicity: White 84.8%; BAME 73.1% (of which, Asian 74.5%; Black 68.5%; Chinese 82.4%; Mixed 76.6%; Other 69.6%)
- Intersectionality: 86.6% White Female; 83.2% White Male; 78.9% BAME Female; 67.2% BAME Male
- Disability: 81.9% no disability declared; 80.6% with a disability
- Age, on starting course: 81.7% aged under 25; 81.1% aged 25 or older
Staff equality data 2019–20
- Gender: Male 54.3%; Female 45.7%
- Ethnicity: White 74.0%; BAME 13.6% (of which, Asian 4.8%; Black 1.8%; Chinese 2.8%; Mixed 1.9%; Other 2.4%); 12.3% undisclosed
- Disability: 78.5% no disability declared; 6.4% with a disability; 15.1% undisclosed
- Age: 19.0% aged under 36; 56.2% aged 36–55; 24.8% aged 56 or older
- Gender: Male 50.5%; Female 41.3%, 8.1% undisclosed
- Ethnicity: White 74.0%; BAME 17.8% (of which, Asian 5.3%; Black 4.5%; Chinese 2.0%; Mixed 2.7%; Other 3.3%); 8.2% undisclosed
- Disability: 79.0% no disability declared; 9.0% with a disability, 12.1% undisclosed
- Age: 36.3% aged under 36; 46.6% aged 36–55; 9.3% aged 56 or older; 7.8% undisclosed
- Gender: Male 39.4%; Female 54.5%, 6.1% undisclosed
- Ethnicity: White 81.9%; BAME 12.3% (of which, Asian 4.0%; Black 3.2%; Chinese 1.4%; Mixed 2.5%; Other 1.1%); 5.8% undisclosed
- Disability: 81.2% no disability declared; 9.0% with a disability, 9.7% undisclosed
- Age: 36.1% aged under 36; 46.9% aged 36–55; 9.0% aged 56 or older; 7.9% undisclosed
- Gender: Male 34.2%; Female 65.8%
- Ethnicity: White 89.5%; BAME 5.0% (of which, Asian 1.4%; Black 0.7%; Chinese 1.2%; Mixed 1.4%; Other 0.3%); 5.5% undisclosed
- Disability: 82.9% no disability declared; 8.6% with a disability, 8.6% undisclosed
- Age: 30.3% aged under 36; 53.1% aged 36–55; 16.5% aged 56 or older
- Gender: Male 28.0%; Female 66.5%, 5.5% undisclosed
- Ethnicity: White 85.7%; BAME 9.9% (of which, Asian 4.4%; Black 2.0%; Chinese 0.5%; Mixed 2.4%; Other 0.6%); 4.4% undisclosed
- Disability: 83.5% no disability declared; 8.8% with a disability, 7.7% undisclosed
- Age: 60.6% aged under 36; 29.8% aged 36–55; 4.7% aged 56 or older; 4.9% undisclosed
- Gender: Male 33.0%; Female 63.5%, 3.4% undisclosed
- Ethnicity: White 88.0%; BAME 7.7% (of which, Asian 3.9%; Black 0.9%; Chinese 0.4%; Mixed 2.1%; Other 0.4%); 4.3% undisclosed
- Disability: 81.1% no disability declared; 9.4% with a disability, 9.4% undisclosed
- Age: 57.5% aged under 36; 34.8% aged 36–55; 4.7% aged 56 or older; 3.0% undisclosed
Previous reporting
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If you have questions relating to Equality and Diversity, please email equality@port.ac.uk.
