PRESS INFORMATION ________________________________________________

Invitation to Launch of Equal Opportunities Guide for Higher Education

A practical guide to help universities implement more effectively their equal opportunity policies will be launched at 1 0.3Oam on Monday 1 6 June.

The guidelines, which serve as a checklist to assist universities analyze and improve their practice, cover issues ranging from teaching styles to performance indicators. The aim is to encourage universities and colleges to review and strengthen policy and practice and bring equal opportunities into the mainstream of their activities.

Higher Education and Equality - A Guide, has been produced by the Commission on University Career Opportunity (CUCO), the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) and the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC). The launch, hosted by the Committee of vice-chancellors and Principals [Note 1], will be attended by Dr Anne Wright, Chair of CUCO, Sir Herman Ouseley, Chairman of CRE, Kamlesh BahI, Chairwoman of EOC, and Diana Warwick, Chief Executive of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, which set up CUCO in 1 994.

Dr Wright, who is vice-chancellor of the University of Sunderland, said:

This a practical guide which underlines the importance of equality of opportunity in higher education. Genuine equality of opportunity allows individuals to reach their full potential which contributes in turn to a healthy national economy. Universities welcome the opportunity to work with the EOC and CRE and hope to build upon this partnership in the future.