Equality, diversity and inclusion

• Childcare Grant for Divinity students

  Funded early learning and childcare is normally available in Scotland for children aged 3 or 4 years, but some students are ineligible for this scheme. The School of Divinity wants to support all students, including those for whom childcare responsibilities could get in the way of work and study. If you are not otherwise funded by the wider Scottish program, you can apply for the Divinity childcare grant.

• Gender balance

  A significant report published by Durham University in 2014 identifies gender balance as a key challenge for equality and diversity in theology and religious studies across the UK. The report diagnoses the transition from undergraduate to research postgraduate study as a crucial turning point. The School of Divinity has therefore developed a series of interventions to encourage female students to imagine an academic career within the discipline, as well as to promote the research of successful female academics. Some of these activities are sponsored by Logia, a School-wide women's initiative originally developed by the Logos Institute for Analytic and Exegetical Theology. They include:

  • a bespoke School-wide mentoring scheme for undergraduate women
  • a regular series of ‘fireside chats’ and workshops with female academics for all students
  • the semi-annual Smith Lectures
  • University-wide initiatives such as mentoring schemes for early-career and advanced academics. 

   

• Logia

  Logia is an organisation in the School of Divinity that aims to highlight and to develop women’s excellence. Logia seeks to support women who are considering pursuing postgraduate Divinity education or who are already students or staff at this level.

  Logia in St Andrews is led by PhD candidates Melissa J. Barciela Mandala and Tessa Hayshida.

  Logia strives to achieves its aims:

  • by inviting staff to share their experiences and offer advice to budding scholars (Logia Connect and Fireside Chat series; see our Events page).
  • by addressing gender-specific barriers to women’s advancement through interactive workshops (“In This Together Workshop”).
  • by creating contexts for women to meet for mutual support both personally and academically (Logia Excel)
  • by facilitating mentorships between women MLitt/undergraduate and Ph.D. students (St Mary’s Mentoring Scheme)
  • by providing a platform of visibility for women’s stories via ongoing Blog posts.
  • by promoting the scholarship of women through our Logia Scholar Database.
  • by establishing collaborations with other institutions that share Logia’s vision (“Logia Global Partners“)
  • by providing avenues for women students to present research or run personalized workshops (Logia Annual Workshop).

  For more information, see the Logia webpage.

• Mediation service

  The Mediation Service is available to students, staff and members of the public, experiencing disagreement or conflict, who would prefer a less formal method of discussing University-related disagreements and grievances. The service is also available for groups or teams.

  The Mediators are staff members from The University of St Andrews who have undertaken formal mediation training accredited by Scottish Mediation. Several Post Graduate students have also qualified in Mediation. Mediators act impartially and separately from University Schools and Services. They are solely interested in helping those engaged in the service reach a mutually acceptable solution.

  Mediation is a confidential, informal, voluntary, self-determined and without prejudice process. If you or someone you know is involved in a disagreement that is in its early stages or has reached an impasse, please contact mediation@st-andrews.ac.uk for an informal chat about how the mediators can help.

• Diversity and inclusion calendar

  The Diversity & Inclusion Calendar is designed to promote diversity initiatives, projects and information from across the University. Each monthly theme will provide key resources to enable each of us to foster a culture of understanding and inclusion in our work and study environments. This information can also be used to raise awareness of equality and inclusion and to help plan events and initiatives in an inclusive way.

• The Smith Lectures - by a distinguished female scholar

  Each semester, an outstanding female scholar from any sub-discipline of Divinity is invited to St Andrews to deliver the Smith Lecture and to meet informally with female students who might be interested in pursuing an academic career in the discipline.

  More information on the origins of the Smith Lectures and previous contributors (including some audio recordings).

• Training

  The following documents outline University advice and training opportunities relevant to equality and diversity.

  Online training modules:​

  • Diversity in the Workplace​
  • Unconscious Bias​
  • Recruitment and Selection

• Work-life balance

  The School and the University try to promote and safeguard a healthy work-life balance for their staff and students.

  The following documents provide information about the relevant practices and policies of both the School of Divinity and the University as a whole: 

  • Flexible working policy
  • Family friendly policies
  • Carers, childcare and school holidays information
  • Health and wellbeing at work initiatives
  • A-Z Wellbeing