UKRI Launches Consultation into Draft Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has launched consultation to obtain feedback on its new equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy. The strategy sets out how UKRI will achieve its long-term commitment of establishing an inclusive research and innovation system.
The ambition is to ensure the UK’s R&I system is one in which:
- Everyone feels included, heard, respected and able to be their real self.
- Different people, ideas, ways of thinking, skills and perspectives are valued.
- People and ideas thrive, are supported and encouraged.
- Everyone can participate in, contribute to and benefit from UKRI’s investments in research and innovation.
UKRI aims to achieve this by adhering to the following four cornerstones for change:
- Fostering an inclusive, equitable, just and diverse research and innovation system by championing and focusing on systemic and structural change.
- UKRI will be open, transparent, and inclusive in its approaches by listening, influencing and working in partnership.
- Committing to leading, taking action and being innovative. UKRI will use evidence, data and learning both internally and externally to inform its actions and the way it works.
- Every individual in UKRI is expected to be inclusive in all that they do. All will be held accountable for their actions as individuals, as leaders, partners and as an organisation.
The draft does not attempt to list all the actions UKRI will take to bring about change, but will instead be a framework that anchors and supports EDI action plans across UKRI. Feedback submitted in response to the consultation will help UKRI to develop these plans.
UKRI Chief Executive Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser said:
‘The launch of the consultation on our equality, diversity and inclusion strategy marks an important milestone in our ambition to work with the community to reshape research and innovation culture so that it truly values and supports different people, places and projects.
‘I encourage anyone with a stake in research and innovation, from all backgrounds, roles and experiences, to take part in the consultation. This will help us to co-create a research and innovation system by everyone, for everyone.’
Responses to the consultation are welcomed from anyone interested or involved in research and innovation, either as an individual, organisation or group. UKRI will review and analyse responses and produce summaries of its findings following the consultation’s conclusion. The first edition of the strategy is expected to be published in summer 2022.
Responses should be submitted via UKRI’s Engagement Hub website by the 28 March 2022 (midday) deadline.