students relaxing

Equality and diversity

Introduction

One of the things we love about UWL is the diverse community and the opportunity to learn from others. 

Diversity is defined as the wide range of backgrounds, mindsets, and experiences amongst individuals. It helps expand our creativity, innovation, skills, and engagement with society. At UWL, we are committed to fostering a culture that promotes a fair and inclusive environment in which the rights and dignity of all students and staff are respected. 

To help all students get the most out of their experience and reach their potential, the UWL Student Code of Conduct makes it clear we do not accept any forms of discrimination. The Equality Act (2010) also protects protected characteristics from discrimination. These protected characteristics include age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, religion, belief, sex, or sexual orientation. 

Main body

There are different types of discrimination: 

  • Direct Discrimination is when you're treated differently and worse than someone else for certain reasons. 
     

  • Indirect Discrimination is when there's a practice, policy, or rule which applies to everyone in the same way, but it has a worse effect on some people than others. 
     

  • Associative Discrimination is when someone is treated unfairly because either someone they know or someone they are associated with has a certain protected characteristic. 
     

  • Perceptive Discrimination is when an individual is treated unfairly because it is believed that they have a certain protected characteristic.

Most of us never intend to cause harm or exclude anyone. But excuses such as ‘I didn’t think they would care’, ‘It was just a laugh’, or ‘other people didn’t mind’, are never good enough. So, it is important to step back and think how someone may hear this or if you would say this in front of a parent, to a child, an academic, or an employer.  

It is important that students are free from any form of discrimination and harassment. Harassment is any unwanted physical, verbal or non-verbal behaviour that is intimidating, hostile, humiliating, or offensive. By treating one another with respect and fairness, we can ensure that everyone has a positive learning, working, and social experience.