Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)
Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) enables the University to evidence that we are meeting our legal duty to promote equality as well as helping to create an inclusive learning and working environment. It is a predictive tool to enable us to evaluate the potential future impact of a new or revised policy, procedure or practice (referred to collectively in this guidance as a policy) before it is implemented.
An EIA should be undertaken on any policy that impacts on people. This is because there may be a possibility that it impacts on people differently and therefore under the Equality Act 2010 we need to ensure that we have paid due regard to eliminate any negative differential impact.
The Equality Act (2010) places a general duty on all public sector organisations to have due regard to the need to:
- Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act.
- Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
- Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
The Act explains that having due regard for advancing equality involves:
- Removing or minimising disadvantages suffered by people due to their protected characteristics.
- Taking steps to meet the needs of people from protected groups where these are different from the needs of other people.
- Encouraging people from protected groups to participate in public life or in other activities where their participation is disproportionately low.
The following characteristics are protected from discrimination by the Equality Act 2010 and should be considered when undertaking an EIA:
- Age
- Disability
- Sex
- Marriage and civil partnership (in employment)
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Sexual orientation
- Gender reassignment
The EIA process helps you consider the effects of a policy on anyone identifying with the protected characteristics in order to be able to take action to prevent discrimination.
The following toolkit explains how to conduct an EIA and should be read before completing the EIA form.
