Office for Institutional Equity

What we do

The Office for Institutional Equity (OIE) was established in 2019 and works to promote equitable opportunity and outcomes within the university. We provide strategic leadership and collaboration to departments across the University so that together we can deliver sector-leading outcomes for our students and become a student-ready university.

The Office provides guidance, information, consultation, and training initiatives, to fulfil commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion for all members of the university community.

The OIE team also offers education and resources to raise understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion issues. The Office supports the University with compliance to meet its statutory obligations and internal policies concerning equity as well its Public Sector Equality Duty.

Charter awards

Race Equality Charter

The Race Equality Charter (REC) is a charter mark created by the national higher education charity, the Advance HE. The REC "provides a framework through which institutions work to identify and self-reflect on institutional and cultural barriers standing in the way of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students”.

The University of East London was recognised with a Race Equality Charter (REC) Silver award in April 2024, affirming the University’s commitment to, and success in progressing race equality. UEL is only the third institution to achieve the Silver award.

Athena SWAN

Athena Swan is a gender equality charter mark created by the national higher education charity, Advance HE. The charter recognises the commitment of higher education institutions (and research institutes) to gender equality, and the actions put in place to redress any imbalance..

There are three levels of award that are given via the Athena SWAN Charter. These are awarded at the university and departmental or School level (renewable every three years). We are proud to have been awarded the Athena SWAN Silver award.

The Athena Swan panel highlighted the University’s efforts in fostering gender equality, particularly noting significant measures such as establishing a strong governance structure for equality, diversity and inclusion.

Stonewall

Stonewall is Britain’s leading charity for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans equality, working to create a world where every single person can be accepted without exception. The Stonewall Equality Index is a ranking list of British employers compiled annually.

We have been awarded a Silver School Champion and Silver Employer award. We hope to reflect on practice at UEL to ensure that we are continuously refining our offering so that it is in line with best practices throughout the sector.