Ms Tanya Kenny:

An objective of the general scheme is to advance equality, diversity and inclusion for higher education. One of the general functions of the scheme is to support equality, diversity and inclusion in higher education, including participation in successive under-represented sections of society. There is also provision for the HEA to prepare an equity of access and participation plan for approval by the Minister. The plan will be published and the designated institutions will be required to have regard to that plan when preparing their own strategic development plan and equality statement.