Everyone's identity matters
Our strategy
Since our last strategy, the world has changed. To deliver our social purpose and to meet the needs and expectations of our staff and students, we need to change, too.
We believe the world needs creativity. This strategy shows how we will bring creativity to the world.
Delivering on anti-racism
We are working together to make UAL an anti-racist university. After consulting staff and students, we have developed a comprehensive anti-racism action plan. This sets clear objectives and expectations for us to tackle racial inequality at UAL.
Learn more about our anti-racism strategy
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We value the diversity of all our staff and the enrichment this brings to our community. So we are committed to an inclusive and supportive environment for all who come to work with us.
The University’s strategy and equal opportunities policy sets out our commitment to promote equality and diversity for all staff regardless of age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender, gender identity, nationality, race, religious belief (or no belief) and sexual orientation.
Learn more about equality, diversity and inclusion at UAL
How we support our diverse communities
Valuing Disabled Colleagues
The Valuing Disabled Colleagues programme has set up a Central Workplace Adjustment Fund, briefings on access to work, anonymous monitoring, a workplace adjustment request procedure, guidance for managers, focus groups to review the impact of particular staff policies and a monthly bulletin for staff. UAL has a dedicated Disability, Access and Inclusion Specialist.
The programme has 3 aims:
- To encourage more staff to tell the University about their impairments/health status and whether adjustments to the workplace are required, to ensure full access and inclusion.
- To provide managers with guidance, resources and funding to help managers to co-ordinate and implement workplace adjustments.
- To introduce procedures, systems and communications to enable the University to better monitor, anticipate and plan for the range of access requirements of disabled staff.
The University has a Disabled/Neurodiverse Staff Network (DSN). The DSN is a confidential supportive group which contributes initiatives on disability awareness and events, promotes disability equality, shares good practice and discusses important issues on a range of disability matters across the University.
Building access guides
For full access and route guides to all our sites visit DisabledGo.
Quiet spaces (for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers)
The University is undertaking a programme of work to improve quiet space provision for the following purposes:
- Prayer or personal reflection
- Rest due to pregnancy or disability
- Breastfeeding and expressing milk
- Disability or health related requirements
Quiet Spaces User Guide (PDF 73KB)
List of Quiet Spaces
Children on UAL sites
The University has guidance for adults, including parents who wish to bring their children on site to attend exhibitions, private views and other public events.
Staff considering retirement or reducing hours
The University welcomes people of all ages to come and work with us.
We are supportive of the increasing numbers of our staff who are working beyond ‘customary’ retirement ages and consider their requests to work flexibly, or reduced hours, or to retrain or put themselves forward for new positions. We also offer Pre-Retirement Workshops for staff who wish to gain further insights into managing the transition into retirement, considering their options and planning for the future.
Staff with faith observance requirements
The UAL Religious Literacy project aims to generate debate about the role that religion, belief and faith play within the social, academic and creative life of the University.
The University welcomes staff from all faiths, and none, and aims to support staff in a number of ways including:
- Chaplaincy – The University has a multi-faith Chaplaincy that supports students and staff from diverse faith backgrounds.
- Multi-faith calendar – Our multi-faith calendar includes listings of major faith events marked by students and staff at UAL. We use the calendar to help inform the development of timetables and to plan events. If you work at UAL, and want to access the multi-faith calendar, please email diversity@arts.ac.uk, using your UAL email account.
- Quiet spaces for prayer and personal reflection – Each UAL site has a space for students, staff and visitors to undertake prayer or personal reflection. For more information, please visit our Quiet spaces page.
- Religious observance and timetabling – The following guidance sets out arrangements for staff who may wish to take time off or arrange flexible working on grounds of religious observance: Religious Observance, Working Hours and Leave Staff Guidance (Word 38KB)