A/8.4 Equal opportunity and diversity policy

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8.4.1 Policy principles
8.4.2 Rights and responsibilities
8.4.3 Inclusive environment and culture
8.4.4 Knowledge and community
8.4.5 Planning
Related Documents
Modification History

8.4.1 Policy principles

QUT's vision, goals and organisational values ( A/2.1 ) reflect a belief in the crucial role of knowledge in understanding and improving the human condition.

Consistent with its vision, goals and organisational values, QUT will infuse social justice philosophy and practices into all aspects of its activities. Such embedding enhances the University's core business, as well as enhancing the opportunities of disadvantaged students and staff.

Informed by global standards of justice and fairness (eg UN/ILO Conventions), the University's pursuit of social justice is underpinned by a commitment to equal opportunity and diversity.

Thus, QUT aims to:

• respect and protect the rights of its students and staff;
• promote a fair and inclusive educational and work environment;
• ensure its graduates possess a sense of social and ethical responsibility; and
• contribute to the social well-being of Brisbane, Australia and other nations.

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8.4.2 Rights and responsibilities

All students and staff have individual rights

• to be treated fairly by the University and by each other; and
• to study and work in an environment free from discrimination and harassment.

To respect and protect these rights, QUT will

• educate and inform members of the University community about their rights and responsibilities (see QUT Code of conduct and QUT Student Charter );
• review and reform University practices to ensure they are inclusive and non-discriminatory; and
• administer grievance resolution procedures (see A/6.1 ).

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8.4.3 Inclusive environment and culture

The student and staff body should reflect the cultural and social diversity of the community. Therefore, under-represented and disadvantaged groups will have particular outreach and recruitment strategies, especially students and staff who are Indigenous, low-income students, rural students, and students and staff with a disability.

All students and staff should experience a sense of belonging which arises from an inclusive learning and working environment which respects diversity. Therefore, learning experiences, on-campus services and administrative procedures for students, as well as career development and management practices for staff, will be fair.

With regard to equal opportunity, QUT acknowledges that treating all people in the same way does not necessarily result in fairness or equality. To promote equality of outcomes for staff and students, the University recognises that social disadvantage creates barriers to success, and that targeted attention to overcome these barriers is a necessary precursor to true equality. Thus, the University's equal opportunity activities encompass particular support and assistance measures for students and staff in equity groups at QUT.

The objective is for the pass rates, attrition rates and satisfaction levels of students in equity groups to be comparable with those of other students, and for promotion rates, resignation rates and satisfaction levels of staff in equity groups to be comparable with those of other staff.

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8.4.4 Knowledge and community

As an institution whose core business is knowledge, QUT has a unique role to play in both the social justice knowledge and skills which graduates acquire, and the social justice aspects of research.

Graduates of QUT will have a sense of social and ethical responsibility, and an understanding of Indigenous and international perspectives (see C/4.3 ). QUT courses will be characterised by content, pedagogy and assessment embedded with Indigenous perspectives, inter-cultural perspectives, and an understanding of social justice. Students in their work-integrated learning and community engagement / service learning activities should have opportunities to engage with disadvantaged and marginalised communities.

Staff at QUT will ensure that their research activities include a positive impact on disadvantaged and marginalised groups in the broader community.

The University's community engagement activities will reflect its civic responsibility and be inclusive of culturally and socially diverse communities.

With regard to public policy, the University will contribute its knowledge, analytical skills and ideas through public debate and consultancies which include a social justice perspective.

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8.4.5 Planning

To give effect to its social justice policy aspirations, QUT will infuse equity considerations into its planning, reporting and accountability arrangements. Priority issues, such as dealing with student poverty or supporting staff and students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersexed or queer (LGBTIQ), will be determined from time to time.

Training and awareness-raising programs and appropriate resourcing will be available to inspire and enable staff and students to engage with social justice activities. Reward and recognition schemes will acknowledge the equity-related achievements of staff and students.

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Related Documents

MOPP A/2.1 QUT's vision, goals and organisational values

MOPP A/8.3 QUT Reconciliation Statement

MOPP A/8.5 Grievance resolution procedures for discrimination related grievances

MOPP B/8.1 Code of Conduct

MOPP C/4.3 Graduate capabilities

MOPP E/2.1 QUT Student Charter

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Modification History

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