Our Leadership

We will support academic and professional leadership 

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We aspire to be recognised as an institutional leader, partnering with others to shape thinking and practice on EDI, and modelling best practice.

We will draw upon the knowledge and expertise of our academics, research staff, professional staff and students to lead public conversations and strengthen confidence about how to approach EDI.

Actions to deliver this objective: 

Below is a list of actions for cross-institutional priorities, requiring coordination and alignment across departments, faculties, divisions and in some cases colleges. They don’t represent a full list of EDI actions being pursued at Oxford, but provide a sense of the work taking place to deliver this objective.

 

Ensure inclusive practice in decision-making and leadership

Support leaders and staff with their understanding of EDI topics

Support scholarly work relating to EDI in all its forms  

Develop student leadership and advocacy  

Develop targets based on the publication of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) People, Culture and Experience, and the Professional Services Review criteria

Consolidate and strengthen EDI governance structures 
The Research Excellence Framework:

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029 will have an increased focus on EDI activities, with emphasis upon People, Culture and Environment. Work will be carried out to develop and align our Key Performance Indicators and main targets around research practice with the REF, once this has been published.

 

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Select initiatives from the collegiate University

The Chief Diversity Officer and the Equality and Diversity Unit will offer new termly informational briefings dedicated to senior academic and professional staff in departments and colleges in order to support their leadership on EDI. In addition, EDI will be embedded into People and Organisational Development’s new staff inductions and senior leader inductions, as well as the Confident Manager programme. 

Our divisions have prioritised inclusive leadership.

Humanities’ Inclusive Chairing and Public Sector Equality Duty toolkits give key faculty officers the skills and confidence to inclusively chair meetings and embed equality considerations into decision-making at all levels.

Medical Sciences Division developed the Inclusive Leadership Programme for senior academic leaders in order to nurture leadership skills and foster inclusive and equitable environments.

Oxford has partnered with UCL Policy Lab and More in Common to deliver ground-breaking research on British public opinion about EDI. Our first publication, Finding a Balance, was released in March 2024 and has helped reshape public and organisational understanding of EDI.

Inductions are being introduced for college junior and middle common room presidents. These will cover topics including effective student leadership, interpersonal conflict and EDI, equipping them to create inclusive student environments.

If you have an idea for a project that can help us strengthen a culture of inclusion, get in touch with your local EDI Lead (divisional pages), or the EDU at equality@admin.ox.ac.uk. 

Access the EDI Strategic Plan

Ideas, questions or feedback? 

If you have an idea, a question or feedback about the EDI Strategic Plan please get in touch

Contact us

 

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