There are many challenges within the higher education sector, particularly for research staff, that can create a difficult environment for any researcher striving to achieve a research career within higher education, but particularly disadvantage some constituencies including women, disabled and black and minority ethnic researchers.
RCUK recently published a statement of expectations stating that an organization's success and competitiveness depends on its ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of its people. RCUK expects that equality and diversity is embedded at all levels and in all aspects of normal research practice.
RCUK expect those in receipt of Research Council funding to provide evidence of ways in which equality and diversity issues are managed at both an institutional and department level. In order to evidence this, RCUK have suggested a number of possible streams including the application of the Vitae ‘Every Researcher Counts resources'.
