Valuing Diversity at Wigan & Leigh College
The Solution
The college had met by Alison Tickner, director of diversity at learning experts Academee, at an equality and diversity workshop organised by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), and been impressed by her. They invited Academee to carry out a diversity and equality diagnostic 'health check' to identify areas for improvement and to highlight excellence. As well as assessing policies, procedures and access issues, the health check examined overall organisational culture via a series of focus groups with staff and students.
Following the health check, it became clear that the college needed to involve and support all staff to ensure that diversity and equality became ingrained into the college culture. Priorities identified included the need to promote diversity and inclusion in staff induction training and to examine the health, safety and environmental issues associated with both staff and learner safety.
"Working with Academee has been a true partnership from the beginning," says Roger Shearer. "They helped to identify our needs, and then helped us achieve our goals."
Academee developed an action plan in partnership with the college. The strategic management team took part in a three-day workshop with Alison Tickner to raise awareness of key issues and to expand the action plan. The equal opportunities committee and policies were reviewed and revised and a new, more all-encompassing equality and diversity policy was introduced.
< < Previous Next >>
Diversity and inclusion learning has had a real impact at Wigan & Leigh College, helping to transform college culture.
