Following the completion of the first of its two years of operation, LSE’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Taskforce has released its ‘Progress report on equity, diversity and inclusion matters at LSE (2015–16)’.

The report outlines the principal objectives of the taskforce and its key practical outcomes and initiatives, encompassing: gender diversity in relation to pay, hiring, promotion and workload; developing anti-bullying and anti-harassment reporting and resolution mechanisms; an EDI audit of professional services staff; the Race in the Academy research project; the Stonewall Workplace Equality submission and support of the School’s Athena SWAN application; fostering a more inclusive School culture; institutionalising EDI around LSE; and improving EDI-related communications.

The EDI team would like to thank the members of its steering committee and working groups for their valuable contributions to the work of the Taskforce in its first year. The team would also like to express its appreciation to the many individuals around the School who have provided feedback, ideas and suggestions on EDI-related activities and projects.

Gender and ethnicity earnings gap at LSE

The EDI Taskforce commissioned a statistical analysis of the pay and promotion gap of women for academic staff and the pay gap of women and ethnic minorities for professional services staff in 2015. We are really thankful to Professor Oriana Bandiera from the Department of Economics, LSE, for her work and support in undertaking this important analysis. The report was announced by Professor Julia Black, LSE's Director, via a School-wide communication on 5 September 2016.

EDI and Organisational Learning Autumn Training Courses

From September 2016 to January 2017, the Cultural Ability Development Engagement & Talent (CADET) programme for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic employees will be run by Imperial College London. Please contact Joy Whyte for more information and to be added to the programme mailing list.

Widening Participation ninth annual Black Achievement Conference: an 'inspirational' experience

As part of Black History Month, the LSE Widening Participation team ran their ninth annual Black Achievement Conference on Saturday 15 October. Over 170 young people aged 14–18 from state schools and colleges and approximately 50 parents, carers and teachers attended the conference.

Hosted by presenter and entertainer Kat B, the conference included a keynote speech from award-winning entrepreneur and finalist of The Apprentice, Bianca Miller. Participants also had the chance to engage in various workshops to inspire and support their decisions about future education choices, with parallel sessions for adult attendees. Further information on the event is featured in the Ninth Annual Black Achievement Conference briefing in LSE Staff News.

LSESU LGBT Pride Week 2016

On Monday 21 November, between 6-8pm, at the 1^st Floor Café, Saw Swee Hock, be a part of ‘Queer Expression’, where the members of LGBT+ community will share their experiences in multiple creative ways.

On Tuesday 22 November, between 6-8pm, at the 1^st Floor Café, Saw Swee Hock, join a discussion on the experiences of being Trans* and non-binary. While the first half, between 6-7pm, is open exclusively to Trans* individuals, the second half is open to all for a broader engagement.

On Wednesday 23 November, an all day event, LGBT+ in Faith on Sheffield Street, will be held where the Faith Centre and the Christian Student Movement will bring to table the issue of integrating LGBT+ community with faith based groups at LSE.

On Wednesday 23 November, between 6-8pm, at the 1^st Floor Café, Saw Swee Hock, join the ‘International LGBT+ Social’, to interact with LSE’s international LGBT+ community.

On Thursday 24 November, between 3-4.30pm, at the 6^th floor studio, join the Alliance and Dance society workshop as a part of the ongoing LGBT+ Pride Week celebrations on campus.

On Friday 25 November, 6-8pm, at the 1^st Floor Café, Saw Swee Hock, be a part of the ‘End of Week Celebration’ where the entire LGBT+ community at LSE and their allies are invited to celebrate the Pride Week.

Tackling sexism and lad culture on campus

On Thursday 24 November 2016, between 11am to 3.30pm, Westminster Briefing is organising a conference on how higher education institutions are engaging with sexism and discrimination on campus. The confirmed speakers of the event include: Hareem Ghani (National Women’s Officer, NUS); Chloe Wynne (Welfare and Campaigns Officer, Warwick SU); Anna Dodridge (Student Advice Manager, KCL SU); Dr Jon Sharp (Director of Student Services, University of East Anglia); Dr Pam Alldred (Senior Lecturer in Education and Youth Work Studies, Brunel University London); and the chair, Dr Vanita Sundaram (Senior Lecturer in Education, University of York).

Beyond Tolerance: Citizenship, Diversity, Constructive Conflict

On Friday 25 November 2016, between 9am-2pm, at the Saw Swee Hock Student Centre,1 Sheffield Street, LSE, a conference ‘Beyond Tolerance: Citizenship, Diversity and Constructive Conflict’, is being supported by LSE CIS and the Institute of Global Affairs. The draft conference programme can be found here.

Some of the confirmed speakers include: Dr Naif Al-Mutawa, Hanan Al Hroub, Lord Dr Michael Hastings, Lord Jitesh Gadhia, Allyson Stewart-Allen, Caroline Watson, Scott Weber, Professor Erik Berglof, Catherine Howarth, Julia Karmo, Vikas Pota, Peter Lacy, Sonia Medina, Jon Alexander, Ayla Goksel, Noa Gafni Slaney, Veronica Needa, Belinda Parmar, Kathryn Tomlinson, Funmi Iyanda, Professor Christine Chinkin, Nour Khaled, Fardous Bahbouh, Jonathan Simons, Janice Lopatkin, Nasser Yassin, Matt Powell, and Professor Lutfey Siddiqi.

This event is now sold out. Please feel free to e-mail s.wise3@lse.ac.uk if you have any queries.

National Carers Rights Day

LSE is now a member of the ‘Employers for Carers’ scheme, which is run by Carers UK. LSE With the recent membership to the charitable organization Carers UK’s support for employers called Employers for Carers, LSE’s commitment towards its staff has takes a leap forward. A member of staff can now log in and make use of the online resources, tools and e-training available as part of the ‘Employers for Carers’ scheme. More on LSE’s commitment towards carers can be found on the ‘Information for carers’ webpage.

On Friday 25 November, the HR team at LSE is hosting a coffee morning for all carers in the School for Carers Rights Day. Please contact Eleni Michael from the HR Policy Team for more information on the event.

Kindly take the short survey ‘Upfront’ created by Carers UK, which provides guidance on caring responsibilities.

Decolonizing Human Rights: From State-Centric Enforcement to People-Centered Practice

On Wednesday 30 November 2016, between 6.30-9pm, at the Ground floor lecture theatre, ArtsOne Building, Queen Mary University of London, the Centre for Law and Society in a Global Context (CLSGC) is hosting a talk on human rights. The event is being chaired by Dr Shazia Choudhry (QMUL) where Professor Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na'im will speak on decolonizing the human rights paradigm. For registration refer to the eventbrite link of the event ‘Decolonizing Human Rights: From State-Centric Enforcement to People-Centered Practice’.

Thinking Sexualities, Globalities and the Politics of Rights from an Interdisciplinary Perspective

On Wednesday 30 November 2016, between 6.30-8pm, at the Sheikh Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building, join the Gender Institute and Leverhulme Trust public lecture. Chaired by Professor Clare Hemmings, Sonia Correa will deliver the lecture on sexual rights theory and politics. This event is free and open to all with no ticket or pre-registration required.

The Populist Challenge to Human Rights

On Thursday 1 December 2016, between 6.30-8pm, at the Sheikh Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building, join the Centre for the Study of Human Rights, for the International Human Rights Day public lecture by Professor Philip Alston on human rights movement.This event is free and open to all with no ticket or pre-registration required.

Back to the Future? Racism after Brexit

On Monday 5 December 2016, between 6-7pm, at CLM 4.02 (Clement House) LSE, hear Katy Sian speak on the historicity of racism in the British society. Referring to the recent rise of racial attacks post Brexit, the talk will explore the increased manifestation of racism as “suggestive of a post-racial fantasy”. This is the second event of The Association for the Study of Ethnicity and Nationalism (ASEN), which forms a part of the 2016/2017 Seminar Series on Ethnicity and Nationalism in Post-Brexit Britain. This event is free and to confirm attendance please email the Seminar Series Chair, Iro Konstantinou.

Applications being accepted for BMEntor

A cross-institutional mentoring scheme for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) academics and researchers between UCL, LSE and Queen Mary is in place. The deadline for expressing interest in becoming a mentee or mentor is Friday 16 December 2016. Please visit the website of BMEntor scheme for more information and to download relevant forms.