1. Terms of Reference
The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion EDI – Human Rights Steering Committee (EDI-Human Rights SC), as a sub-committee of the Executive Committee, will actively lead the implementation of the University’s Human Rights EDI Strategy. This will be accomplished through the development, execution, and regular review of comprehensive action plans to align and integrate with sub- committees, working groups, and the Human Rights-EDI risk register under the 4 pillars of Gender Equality, Inclusive Campus, Diversity and Inclusion, Sexual Health & Wellbeing.
The committee will establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track measurable progress, promote accountability, and drive continuous progress toward achievement of strategic objectives. Where necessary, the EDI-Human Rights SC will seek support and approval from the Executive Committee to advance initiatives effectively.
2. The Role
2.1 Monitor and support the implementation of the University’s Human Rights EDI Strategy.
2.2 Facilitate active engagement across all university functions and sub-committees to advance the University’s Human Rights EDI Strategy.
2.3 Maintain alignment with the objectives and activities of sub-committees and working groups.
2.4 In collaboration with Student Life and the Post Graduate Students Union (PSU), develop and support initiatives to enrich staff and student Human Rights EDI experience.
2.5 Engage with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) to ensure University compliance with its legal obligations under the IHREC Act, 2014 – Public Sector Duty.
2.6 Responsible for the publication of UL’s annual Human Rights-EDI report.
2.7 Reports annually to the Executive Committee.
2.8 Reports annually to the Governing Authority the Governing Authority sub-committees: e.g. People & Culture, Student Experience, Access & Equality.
2.9 The EDI – Human Rights Sub Committees (SC) under the auspice of the Human Rights-EDI Department will report at least four times per annum.
3. Governance
3.1 The EDI-Human Rights SC will act with authority, as delegated by Executive Committee, and will review / advise on proposals from sub-committees as set out below for recommendation to Executive Committee in the area of Human Rights, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion.
3.2 The EDI-Human Rights SC will support equality, diversity and inclusion and will strive for gender balance and representation in the membership of the committee across the ten equality grounds. It will seek consistency and common approaches that serve the best interests of students and staff.
3.3 The EDI-Human Rights SC will liaise closely with the Executive Committee, the sub- committees of the EDI-Human Rights SC and other University Committees as appropriate.
3.4 The EDI-Human Rights SC shall identify and agree methods of interaction and information exchange with relevant academic units and professional support services in matters relating to Human Rights EDI.
4. Operations
4.1 The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion - Human Rights Steering Committee (EDI-Human Rights SC) will meet quarterly.
4.2 Sub-committee chairs will provide regular updates to the SC committee on their alignment and support of Human Rights-EDI through briefing documents. Briefing documents will support SC reporting requirements and will be taken as read at SC meetings.
4.3 Sub-committee chairs seeking SC input will contribute 1-slide update of key highlights or specific request for presentation at SC meetings.
4.4 Sub-committees will ensure proposals for recommendation to Executive Committee are tabled as specific agenda items to ensure broader engagement and discussion at SC meetings.
4.5 Committees proposed by Executive Committee for reporting to the EDI-Human Rights SC will be responsible for implementing their own agendas and actions that align with EDI-Human Rights SC objectives.
4.6 At the start of each meeting, the Chair of the EDI-Human Rights SC will ask members to declare any conflict of interest, perceived or otherwise, in relation to any matters on the agenda. Where such a conflict is declared, the member will absent themselves from the meeting during consideration of the agenda item. Any additional documentation will not be made available to the member following the declaration of interest. These matters will be recorded in the minutes.
4.7 The Steering Committee, when required, will provide its minutes to the Executive Committee as soon as possible for noting, discussion and/or approval as necessary.
4.8 The EDI-Human Rights SC will agree its Programme of Work on an annual and/or longer-term basis.
4.9 The EDI-Human Rights SC will review its terms of reference on an annual basis and recommend any proposed changes to the Executive Committee for consideration.
4.10 Questions arising at any EDI-Human Rights SC meeting shall be decided by a majority of the votes of the members present, either in person, hybrid or online via Teams. Where there is equality of votes, the Chair shall have an extra casting vote. Where decisions are unanimous, they shall be recorded as such in the minutes. Dissensions and negative votes shall be summarised in the minutes in terms acceptable to the dissenting person(s) or negative voter(s).
Members / Nominees
- Director Human Rights-EDI – Chair
- Faculty Executive Deans and/or senior co-opted nominees
- Vice President Global & Community Engagement
- Associate Vice-President Student Engagement (AVPSE)
- Associate Vice-President Academic Affairs (AVPAA)
- Vice President Research (VPR)
- Director of Human Resources (DHR)
- Heads of Directorates or senior co-opted nominees
- Director of ITD
- Director of Academic Registry
- Director of Library and Information Services
- Director of Quality
- Director Student Affairs
- Assistant Deans Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (ADEDI)
- Unite Representative
- Director, INAR – Irish Network Against Racism
- Director of Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs
- Post Graduate Union President (PSU)
- Student Life Communities Officer
- Universal Design & Inclusive Practice @ UL committee Chair (UDIP@UL)
- Disability Support Services Manager
- Chief Financial & Performance Officer
Chairs of Each of the Sub-Committees
(Terms of Reference in place for all committees)
Pillar 1 – Gender Equality
- Athena Swan Steering Committee (Chair Director – Human Rights-EDI)
- Faculty Athena Swan EDI Committee (Chairs – Assistant Deans EDI)
Pillar 2 – Inclusive Campus
- Staff DisAbility Committee (Chair H&S Manager) – Formal ToR in place
- Universal Design and Inclusive Practice @ UL (UDIPUL) – Chair AVPSE
- Autism in UL Special Interest Group (SIG)
- Inclusive Recruitment – Part of DisAbility Committee remit
Pillar 3 – Diversity & Inclusion
- Ethnic Diversity Forum – (Formal committee with terms of reference)
- University of Sanctuary – (Committee reporting to AVPSE)
- Age Friendly University Committee (Chairs – Professor/Emeritus Professor)
- Global Engagement & Internationalisation at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Working Group (Chair)
- EqUL Staff LGBTQIA – (Network)
Pillar 4 – Sexual Health & Wellbeing (SHW)
- Consent Framework Steering Committee (Chair Director Human Rights-EDI since 2023)
- *Sexual Health & Wellbeing (SHW) group (Chair Director – Human Rights EDI)
- Student Mental Health & Wellbeing Committee (Chair AVPSE)
- Healthy UL – Substance Use and Gambling – Sub Group of Healthy UL (Substance Use and Gambling Support Officer)
Human Rights-EDI Working Groups
- Briefing training video / promotion materials on the implementation of the Human Rights-EDI strategy to be developed
- Incorporating Human Rights-EDI into Quality and Policy Processes
- Defining Monitoring Indicators for Implementation of Human Rights-EDI Strategy
*The SHW now includes Consent Framework Policy Review Group Members & Sexual Health & Wellbeing group Members