Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Faculty of Social Sciences

Our Faculty community is made up of staff and students from across the UK and around the world. We deeply value the diversity of perspectives that this brings to our research and our student experience. We are actively working to improve our existing practices, raise awareness, and address structural inequalities in order to create an inclusive, welcoming and equitable environment for all, in line with our Faculty Vision and Strategy. 

The Faculty holds three Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Community of Practice meetings per year, which are opportunities for all staff and students to contribute to discussions surrounding our EDI priorities and participate in our work to tackle inequalities.

Community of Practice meetings are coordinated by Nick Burdett, EDI Manager (Faculty of Social Sciences) and Beth Lavery (Faculty Project Officer), and feed into the Faculty Management Team and University EDI Steering Group. If you would like to find out more about these meetings, or our wider EDI work, please email FSSEquality@leeds.ac.uk.

Our Faculty EDI Manager and Project Support Officer work closely with School EDI Leads within each of our schools, these are:

• Education: Dr Yvonne Griffiths and Dr Nasir Mahmood
• Law: Dr James Greenwood-Reeves
• Politics and International Studies: Dr Kerri Woods
• Sociology and Social Policy: Dr Hannah Morgan

Faculty student and staff EDI feedback form

We welcome feedback from all students and staff within the Faculty to uncover best practice regarding Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). If you are aware of any good practice, events or initiatives that you would like to be promoted in our EDI Newsletter, please let us know.

We also welcome feedback surrounding any EDI related improvements that you feel the Faculty should consider.

You can provide feedback by completing this form. All feedback is provided anonymously unless you choose to include your contact details.

Faculty of Social Sciences Doctoral Scholarships for postgraduate researchers from UK Black, Asian and ethnic minority Communities

The Faculty is excited to announce the launch of a new doctoral scholarship initiative for postgraduate research applicants from UK Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to undertake doctoral study within the Faculty. This five-year initiative beginning in 2022 seeks to help address the underrepresentation of ethnic minority students in postgraduate research and throughout academia, including in senior roles.

Applications were open for the 24/25 scholarships from November 2023 until April 2024.

Faculty EDI Student Advisory Board (SAB)

The EDI Student Advisory Board (SAB) is a group of students from across the four schools of the Faculty of Social Sciences, across all levels of study, who can speak from their own experience to advise decision makers in the Faculty in order to make a positive impact on equity, diversity and inclusivity in student education, research and student experience.

Information and resources

Learn more about EDI at Leeds

• Our Faculty EDI Action Plan aligns with the vision and commitments of the University’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy 2022, the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strand of the Faculty’s Vision and Strategy 2023-2030 and our Faculty Athena Swan Bronze Award.
• The University’s Equality and Inclusion Unit is a key place to find information about University EDI policies, institutional frameworks and equalities data. The Unit also provides access to support and resources on a wide range of equality and inclusion issues.
• The policy on dignity and mutual respect outlines the University’s policy against bullying, harassment and victimisation, together with complaints procedures for staff and students. 
• Report + Support is the University’s reporting system for misconduct, harassment, hate crime and other incidents.

• LinkedIn Learning provides several courses on equality, diversity and inclusion. All colleagues and students with a University login can access these for free (see the quick start guide). Some examples include:
  • Diversity, inclusion and belonging
  • Inclusive mindset
  • Unconscious bias
  • From bystander to upstander

Student Education

• The University’s Access and Student Success Strategy outlines the University’s vision and approach to ensuring students from all backgrounds are able to progress to, and benefit from, an enriching and successful experience at Leeds.
• The Inclusive Teaching website provides resources and guidance on embedding inclusivity into our learning and teaching activities.
• The Decolonising website outlines the University’s Decolonising Framework and provides resources to support staff in decolonising their teaching.
• EDI in PhD supervision: this blogpost provides some useful advice for those who supervise doctoral students.

For students

• Leeds University Student Union (LUU) provides support to students on a range of equality and inclusion issues as well as health and wellbeing. The LUU Equality and Liberation Officer champions equality and diversity across the University and the city and promotes student voices.
• Disability Services supports disabled students and their academic departments, providing information on adjustments as well as information about funding and other forms of support.
• The Student Support and Wellbeing website provides information about the range of support and resources provided by the university.

For staff

• There are a number of staff networks: N4MES (for staff from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds); the LGBTQ+ Staff Network; the Muslim Staff Network; Women@Leeds; the Leeds Accessibility Staff Network (for University of Leeds Staff with disabilities, chronic conditions and mental health conditions).
• EDI in research: the Faculty Research & Innovation Office can provide advice and signposting on EDI considerations in research projects and funding applications.
• The University HR website lists the various policies related to e.g. parental leave; work-life balance and flexible working; and performance and development.
• Organisational Development and Professional Learning (OD&PL) also provide resources on equality and inclusion, including for leaders and managers.
• Staff can access a range of EDI related resources aimed at employers via Business in the Community (BITC).
• Business Disability Forum (BDF) also provides a range of resources and toolkits for managers and employers. To access the BDF Knowledge Hub, register with your University email address on their signup page. You can find out more about BDF member benefits on the EIU website here.