A Changed College:
A review of progress made to meet the general duty
Summary of Progress: Mainstreaming Equality in Years
2015-2017
Since the earlier review in April 2015, the
College has continued to change and evolve
as an organisation and educational institution
with equality and inclusion as an integral part of
College life. In reviewing the College’s overall
progress in relation to mainstreaming equality,
the assessment is very positive. The College has
made significant progress in raising awareness
of equality and inclusion through student
and staff inductions, campaigns and events,
curriculum subject learning and staff learning
and development. The College also promotes
itself as a champion and advocate of equality
through its partnership working and reviews and
updates its curriculum delivery plan to ensure
it widens access and participation especially
for those furthest away from education and
employment.
The College Estate has been improved to
increase accessibility including the introduction
of gender neutral toilets, a Contemplation
room and Health and Wellbeing room in
the new Kilmarnock Campus. In the years
ahead, the College will continue to develop
its Estate to ensure it is fully accessible
to all. Similarly, the College will invest in
technological advancements. The inclusion
of Browsealoud on the College’s website
and student portal (Moodle) for example,
are relatively new technological investments
supporting accessibility. These technological
enhancements complement already exi sting
College-wide access to assistive technologies
such as Read and Write Gold, My Study Bar and
Mind Manager. Moreover, the Staff Learning
Portal is widening access for staff to participate
in opportunities to enhance their knowledge
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and skills including on equality, inclusion
and wellbeing. The Staff Learning Portal was
introduced in academic year 2015-2016 to
act as an online hub for staff, where they can
access and be kept up-to-date on learning
opportunities. As a multi-campus College, the
Portal is also enabling participation through live-
streaming and recorded training sessions.
The College is therefore,
evolving and developing
continually which is supported
and enabled through embracing
the value of equality and
inclusion across all aspects
of its business
To ensure that equality is at the heart of
College business, it is essential that work
continues to embed inclusion within all
decisions, policies and processes to ensure
that the different impacts across protected
characteristic groups are fully considered and
continue to be a priority for the College moving
forward. In this respect, a renewed focus on the
Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) will support
the ongoing development of the College along
with other changes which are given focus also
within the new Equality Outcomes 2017-2021.