FOI_25-110 Equality Diversity and Inclusion Training content
Date of response: 07 May 2025
We have now considered your request of 10 April 2025 for the following information:
We are sending you, as Freedom of Information Officer of your university (the “University”), this request for information under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the “Act”).
This Freedom of Information request aims to investigate the role of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) related training at universities, particularly in the context of its impact on free speech rights.
Copies of documents are not required if they are already available on the University’s website, but we would be grateful if you could indicate where they can be found if you are not sending them in response to these requests.
Question 1. EDI Training Content
Unless the answer to question 6 below is affirmative:
a) Please provide copies of any EDI training materials¹ (including slides, scripts, assessments and videos/similar media) used for training staff and students over the two years prior to the date of this document. If training on particular topics has been repeated during this period, please provide information in respect of the most recent “full version” of such training.
¹ By which we mean materials relating to, or to aspects of, equality, diversity and/or inclusion programmes and agendas, including subjects such as harassment, gender, unconscious bias and recruitment/selection of candidates for positions.
These materials include things such as instructions and training for the giving of EDI related training.
b) Are participants required to indicate or express agreement with or support for specific ideas, statements or information, values, principles, agendas or approaches to issues² (together, “Relevant Values”)?
c) Does the training contain any assessments or tests? If so, do participants need to “pass” them (i.e. answer questions in certain ways), and what happens if they do not do so?
d) Does the training refer to the University’s free speech code and to the rights of staff and students to hold (or not hold) and to express their beliefs and viewpoints (or lack of them) about the subject- matter of the training? If so, where?
e) Does the training present particular Relevant Values as the only legitimate view on or approach to a topic, and/or differing views from the Relevant Values in a negative light? If so, where is this?
Question 2. Mandatory or Voluntary Training
Unless the answer to question 6 below is affirmative:
a) Is EDI training compulsory for staff and/or students? If so, is it required at induction, annually, or for promotions?
b) If compulsory can students or staff opt out of EDI training without facing penalties?
Question 3. Development and sources of training and materials; teaching requirements
Unless the answer to question 6 below is affirmative:
a) Does the University develop its own EDI training, including materials, or does it rely on external providers (e.g. Advance HE)? If external providers are used, please list them and provide copies of contracts or agreements.
b) Are any external campaign groups or activist organisations involved in designing or approving EDI training?
c) Does the students’ union have any involvement in any aspects of developing or implementing EDI training?
d) Has the University ever removed or amended EDI training content due to concerns about free speech violations? If so, please provide details.
e) Does the University have:
• training materials for givers/presenters of EDI training; or
• requirements for how training is to be conducted and the materials to be used for this, and on language and references employed during the training?
If so, please provide copies.
Question 4. Compliance and Complaints
Unless the answer to question 6 below is affirmative:
a) In the past three years, has the University received any formal complaints regarding EDI training, including concerns about ideological bias, compelled speech, or free speech violations?
If so, how many, and what were the outcomes?
b) Has the University conducted any internal reviews to ensure EDI training complies with the Office for Students (OfS) guidance (as issued in draft form) on free speech? If so, please provide details.
c) How does the University ensure that its EDI training does not penalise staff or students for holding lawful views that may differ from the Relevant Values promoted in the training?
d) Does the University conduct legal review of EDI training materials to ensure compliance with free speech protections? If so, which legal officers or advisors have been consulted?
Question 5. Institutional neutrality
Unless the answer to question 6 below is affirmative:
a) Has the University adopted a policy of institutional neutrality on contested issues? If so, please provide a copy.
Our response to questions 1-5.
Not applicable, please see our response to question 6.
Question 6. Review and revisions of EDI training and materials for next academic year.
Will the University be reviewing its:
o governing documents, including its policies and relevant requirements; and
o its EDI training and relevant materials, in the light of the recent report by the Office for Students on governance failures by the University of Sussex in respect its obligations to secure free speech and imposition of consequent
penalties, and the approaching coming into effect of material provisions of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023; and
• revising its EDI training and relevant materials prior to the beginning of the next academic year, to the extent necessary to secure compliance with relevant law and regulatory requirements, and its governing documents including its policies and relevant requirements?
(If this question 6 is answered in the affirmative, please ignore the other questions above.)
Our response:
Yes. The University will be reviewing our governing documents including policies and relevant requirements, our EDI training and relevant materials prior to the beginning of the next academic year to ensure compliance with relevant law and regulatory requirements.
As well as this, all current EDI policies, which will support our EDI training content and materials, are currently under review as of the date of your request - Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policies