{"id":1304,"date":"2021-04-21T15:02:43","date_gmt":"2021-04-21T14:02:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/fmsdiversity\/?p=1304"},"modified":"2021-04-21T15:02:44","modified_gmt":"2021-04-21T14:02:44","slug":"announcing-the-new-fms-edi-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/fmsdiversity\/2021\/04\/21\/announcing-the-new-fms-edi-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"Announcing the new FMS EDI Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Hear from our EDI co-directors, Amy Reeve and Damian Parry, on our EDI strategy for building a more diverse & inclusive medical faculty.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 2020 will long sit in the U.K.\u2019s consciousness as it was the point at which the country entered its first ever lockdown. For us it has the added significance that it coincided with us taking on the roles of FMS co-directors for EDI. It was quite a time to take up the role and we only managed to meet in person once before the Country went online. We had to adapt to not only change in the way we worked, but also to new roles and responsibilities. One of our mutual primary aims was to develop a Faculty strategy for how to build a more diverse and inclusive faculty, for all students and colleagues, across all roles and career stages. As the year progressed the complexity of the role became more and more evident, the intricacies of understanding and communicating in a way that was fitting to the role and yet personable and approachable became one of our ambitions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


This is why it\u2019s taken us a year to reach the point when we feel able (following a year of education and reflection) to put the strategy together. In the our strategy we want to get across the message of respect and understanding, and so we based it on three words that came out of last year\u2019s FEB away-day which describe the type of Faculty we strive to be –<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Kind
Respectful
Bold<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


We are currently developing an action plan based on this document. In this we will determine SMART actions by which we can determine the extent of progress towards a more equal, diverse and inclusive Faculty. Culture change won\u2019t result from policy change (although policy has to be a driving force), but rather it needs to come from deeper understanding of an individual\u2019s needs and a greater acceptance of the benefit of difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Take a look at the official EDI strategy below.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/em><\/strong>Faculty of Medical Sciences<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Vision and Strategy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018In pursuit of excellence, we value equality and diversity and endeavour to embed these principles in all that we do.\u2019 <\/em>Professor David Burn, Pro-Vice Chancellor, FMS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OUR MISSION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vision of the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) is to \u2018use our strengths in research and teaching to improve the health of the population\u2019. <\/em>We are only able to achieve this if our teaching and research is conducted in an environment built on a foundation of equity and inclusion, and undertaken by a diverse community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Directors of EDI, our mission for EDI in the faculty is to encourage a Kind <\/strong>and creative environment with a sense of belonging for all who work and study within our walls, ensuring there is no space for discrimination or negative behaviours. By engaging in discussions with gentleness, openness and understanding, and by valuing and listening to the voices of all within our Faculty, we will be Respectful<\/strong>. We will be Bold, <\/strong>aiming high in our teaching and research endeavours, but also in our approaches to supporting our colleagues and students. By constantly evaluating and reviewing the strategy below we will ensure it evolves to strengthen this mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OUR PHILOSOPHY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our philosophy, built around the University\u2019s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) priorities<\/a>, will ensure continuous improvement in this area. We are one university and cannot work in isolation. To enact change we learn and share best practice with colleagues in other faculties and beyond, to ensure that we are well placed to be able to respond to current and future challenges. Therefore, within FMS, as part of Newcastle University we will uphold the principles set out in the Institution EDI strategy and have used them as a foundation for our FMS EDI strategy;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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