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Equality, diversity and inclusion

Watering the flowers at the terrace garden, CSM

Learn what UAL does to create an inclusive and safe environment where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential.

In alignment with the Equality Act 2010, we support protected characteristics including:

  • age
  • disability
  • gender reassignment (identity)
  • marriage and civil partnership
  • pregnancy and maternity
  • race
  • religion
  • sex
  • sexual orientation.

EDI objectives and reports

Learn more about our aims and planned actions.

Staff and student diversity

  • Collage of images representing African heritage, culture and celebrities.
    Petra Raissa Nogueira, '[Black is] light', 2021, BA Fashion Design and Development, London College of Fashion,UAL.
    Anti-racism strategy

    We are working together to make UAL an anti-racist University. Learn more about our plans and objectives.

  • Watering the flowers at the terrace garden, CSM
    Student diversity

    Learn more about how UAL supports its diverse student community.

  • Girl in intricate sequence jacket
    Angelica Ellis, 2021 BA Fashion Print, Central Saint Martins, UAL | Photographer: Maria Maleh
    Staff diversity

    Learn about how we support and promote diversity of our staff.

EDI Governance

The Governors are consulted by the Executive Board. The Executive Board are consulted by the staff Forums:

  • Disability and Neurodiversity Champions Forum
  • LGBTQ+ Champions Forum
  • Race Champions Forum
  • Religion and Belief Champions Forum.

Champions Forums are chaired by a member of the Executive Board and are made up of staff and student representatives from across the University.

Members meet termly to share good practice and work on a wide range of EDI projects and initiatives. The Forums play a key role in embedding EDI across the institution.

Charter marks and memberships

Find out what programmes UAL is part of. Learn what charter marks we are working towards.

Staff networks

UAL also has a number of staff networks and communities of practice that engage with EDI:

  • Disabled and Neurodiverse staff network
  • GEMS (Group for Equality of Minority Staff) network for B.A.M.E. staff
  • LGBTQ+ staff network
  • Menopause community of practice
  • Parents and Carers staff network
  • Religion and Belief community of practice.

How we make sure equality, diversity and inclusion is practiced

The UAL Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team collaborates with all areas of the University. The teams helps embed EDI:

  • Through providing training, advice and support.
  • Working towards accreditations, key initiatives and events.
  • Ensure that all operations within the University are in line with the Equality Act 2010.

The team’s ambition is to ensure EDI is at the core of working, teaching and learning, so that all members of UAL are empowered to reach their full potential.

Equality Impact Assessments

Conducting EIAs ensures that we are assessing the impact on protected groups under UAL’s Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) under the Equality Act 2010, including in:

  • proposed policies
  • provisions
  • criteria
  • functions
  • practices
  • reorganisations and activities
  • decisions and the delivery of services.

The basic requirements of PSED are to take action to:

  • Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Act.
  • Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and people who do not share it; and
  • Foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and people who do not share it.