Equal Opportunity & Diversity in ELT

1. Equal Opportunity & Diversity in ELT Fiona Bartels-Ellis Head of Equal Opportunity & Diversity

2. What is the EO&D agenda about? Why is it relevant to ELT? What is the British Council doing? What can you do?

3. What does EO&D mean? Equal opportunity – focused on legislating against unjustified discrimination Diversity – harnessing and maximising potential to the benefit of the organisation Interconnections – need both

4. What do we mean by Equal Opportunity & Diversity? 1 Equal opportunity - focused on legislating against unjustified discrimination and fair treatment of specific groups

5. What do we mean by Equal Opportunity & Diversity? The equal opportunityagenda aims to treat people fairly, to remove barriers to this and to redress existing imbalances, so that groups which continue to be disadvantaged gain access to opportunities for full participation in the workplace and wider society.

6. What do we mean by Equal Opportunity & Diversity? The intention is to remove the barriers that limit what people can do and can be so that all people can flourish, living the way they value and would choose to.

7. What do we mean by Equal Opportunity & Diversity? 2Diversity - focussed on making the most effective use of the differences and similarities between people for the benefit of wider society and organisations

8. What do we mean by Equal Opportunity & Diversity? The diversity agenda contributes to creating societies and working environments that understand and respect differences and relate these to our common humanity.

9. What do we mean by Equal Opportunity & Diversity? Effectively managing the differences between peoples and their environments can lead to organisational and societal benefit in rapidly changing local, national and global contexts. 

10. The Iceberg –many important differences below the surface Managing and valuing diversity means that you seek difference, value it and capitalise on it Tony Montes, Ashridge

11. What EO&D is not: It is not about reducing standards It is not a distraction from more important issues It is not just about tokenism and political correctness It is not about removing our prejudices – it is about recognising they exist and then questioning them before we act

12. What is driving the EO&D agenda in ELT? BUSINESS LEGAL MORAL

13. What is driving the EO&D agenda in ELT? Ever-changing global context Changing needs and expectations of customers Relevance to audiences and stakeholders Changing needs of staff

14. What is driving the EO&D agenda in ELT? Values: integrity and professionalism Managing financial and reputational risk Legislation – letter and spirit of the law

15. The value of mainstreaming EO&D built into all aspects of ELT work; no longer an “added extra” More than just unjustified discrimination and employee relations Developing and/or sustaining a culture of inclusion and respect which stimulates learning and creativity Leadership aspirations; role model for other organisations

16. What are the challenges? Buy-in from ELT practitioners Intercultural awareness and global citizenship dimension Challenging cultural contexts; lack of guidance and support Absence of EO&D in training; TESOL, CELTA, DELTA

17. What are the challenges? Lack of EO&D content in coursebooks and other materials Danger of stereotyping; perceptions of “real” & “proper” English Questionable nature of “native speaker” model Diverse learning styles Timetabling issues

18. EO&D and ELT at the British Council Handbook & INSETT programmes E&E Diversity Assessment Framework Monitoring Equality Impact Assessment

19. Equal Opportunity & Diversity and ELT Thank You Fiona Bartels-Ellis Head of Equal Opportunity & Diversity