Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Our vision is to cultivate a school community that embraces and exemplifies the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) at every level encompassing all UK Equality Act protected characteristics. We strive to foster a culture where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute fully to our shared mission.
Strategic Aims
We aim to be leaders in promoting diversity and inclusion within education and in the scientific fields of Biodiversity, One Health, and Veterinary Medicine, reflecting the global perspectives and insights critical to our academic and research excellence. This commitment is integral to shaping the future of both education and research, where diverse perspectives drive innovation and societal impact.
To advance this, we will:
• Continue to develop and enhance our approaches for embedding diversity and inclusivity.
• Prioritise our diversity and inclusivity activities according to the areas of greatest need, identified through evidence-based analysis, (surveys and staff data).
• Base our approaches to diversity and inclusion on recognised models of best practice, evolving and sharing expertise.
Examples of Recent Progress and Success
Following restructure, SBOHVM successfully gained its Silver Award in September 2023. SBOHVM’s commitment to intersectional gender equality in academic, professional and support roles and amongst students is demonstrated by our membership of the Athena Swan Charter. EDI training sessions have been delivered
to staff, enhancing awareness around issues including bias reduction and social inclusion.
Furthermore, we continue to deliver Cultural Competency training across both the BVMS and BSc Veterinary Biosciences degree programme. The ECR EDI discussion group has hosted monthly seminars to foster discussion and enhance our inclusive culture. Over the past 12 months, SBOHVM has recognised and commemorated key dates such as Black History Month, Ramadan/Eid and LGBTQ+ Pride Month aligning with our goal of creating a supportive and inclusive workplace. The recent appointment of 2 Champions for Hidden Disabilities (Maria Afonso) and Neurodiversity (Euan Bennet) have strengthened disability awareness and support provision within the School.
The School’s EDI strategy aligns closely with the College Strategy and Futures Plan 2033 by:
• Fostering a Diverse and Inclusive Community: Our focus on increasing diversity and creating an inclusive environment reflects the university’s wider ambition to be a leader in diversity and global citizenship.
• Innovating in Education and Research: By incorporating global perspectives and fostering diverse research collaborations, we contribute to the university’s vision of advancing impactful research that addresses pressing global challenges.
• Building Future Leaders: Our professional development opportunities and inclusive community initiatives align to nurture future leaders who are skilled and committed to equity and inclusion values.
• Sustainability and Global Impact: Through our EDI strategy, we support the College’s commitment to sustainability and global impact, recognizing that diverse teams are more innovative and effective in addressing complex, interdisciplinary issues including biodiversity health, biodiversity loss and global health challenges.