The tic promotes equality of opportunity in respect of every aspect of its provision. University policy and practice will seek to provide an environment that is free from discrimination against students, staff and others.

The tic will ensure that all students and staff, current or prospective, are treated solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential. The tic will seek to prevent any form of unlawful or unfair discrimination, and will be concerned with the prevention of direct and indirect, overt and covert discrimination on grounds of race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, religious belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family circumstances, citizenship, social and economic status, or any other irrelevant individual differences.

The tic is committed to fairness in its practices and in meeting the needs of our diverse student and staff bodies. Where appropriate and within our means, the University will take positive action to meet these commitments.

In order to achieve this aim, the tic will seek to:

• promote good relations between individuals from different groups;
• recognise and develop the diversity of background, skills and talent within its current and potential student and staff body;
• foster a culture based on trust and mutual respect;
• collect and monitor data to assist in the identification and removal of barriers to the equality of opportunity;
• communicate to staff, students and others the promotion of equal opportunities and the tic's procedures to sustain it;
• deal with breaches of policies and procedures in accordance with the student or staff disciplinary process.

This Statement applies to all students and staff of the tic and to all activities associated with the University, whether or not on tic property.

The Vice-Chancellor is responsible for the overall implementation of this Statement and requires that tic procedures and practices are consistent with it.

Faculties and Departments, through their Deans or Directors, are responsible to the Vice-Chancellor for the implementation of the Statement and its underlying policies in their area of responsibility.

The Equal Opportunities Statement was adopted for the University by Deans/Directorate on 30 June 2003 and by Senate on 3 July 2003.