Charters, pledges and commitments in the HE sector

We have collated a list of charters, pledges and commitments that universities and other higher education institutions can and do sign up to.

Read our blog article which sets out why we have collated this list and what we think this list tells us, as a sector.

Inclusion in the list below does not constitute a recommendation from us that universities sign up to these commitments. Indeed, we have some concerns about the costs and risks associated with some of these schemes and the amount of work often required from signatory institutions. See additional notes on this list.

We will update this list as we are informed of changes or identify additions.

Spotted any information in the table below that needs to be updated? Are there any other charters, pledges or commitments you feel we should include? Use the form to let us know.

With thanks to Jennifer Gibbard for supporting our collation of this list of charters and pledges.

Title	Summary	Sector specificity	Is there a direct cost (a financial payment) to join?	Does it relate primarily to support for students?	Does it relate primarily to support for staff?	Does it relate primarily to research?	Does it relate primarily to academic standards?
Customer Service Excellence (CSE)	A set of criteria for organisations to be assessed against in order to achieve a quality mark evidencing their commitment to delivering high quality services to their users with a focus on their individual needs and preferences.	Open to All Sectors	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO
Digital Participation Charter (Scotland)	A charter promoting digital inclusion and participation in Scotland including initiatives to bridge the digital divide, improve digital skills and ensure equitable access to digital technologies and services. Encourages collaboration across sectors to empower communities.	Open to All Sectors	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO
Disability Confident	A charter promoting the recruitment, retention and support of employees with disabilities including initiatives to remove barriers to employment, provide reasonable accommodations and foster inclusive workplace cultures. Organisations commit to Disability Confident practices.	Open to All Sectors	NO	NO	YES	NO	NO
Disability Employment Charter	A charter dedicated to increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities including commitments to accessible recruitment processes, reasonable adjustments and ongoing support in the workplace. Organisations pledge to promote disability inclusion and diversity.	Open to All Sectors	NO	NO	YES	NO	NO
Disabled Student Commitment	A commitment to support disabled students in education and employment including provisions for accessible learning environments, accommodations and inclusive policies and practices. oOganisations aim to empower disabled students to achieve their full potential.	UK Higher Education Sector	NO	YES	NO	NO	NO
Diversity Mark	An accreditation that allows an organisation to demonstrate to employees and suppliers a commitment to create an inclusive and diverse workplace.	Open to All Sectors	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO
EcoCampus	An accreditation scheme that recognises successful phased implementation of an environmental management system for the higher and further education sector, towards an award that conforms with the requirements of the ISO 14001 international environmental management standard.	UK Higher Education Sector	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO
Emily Test Gender-Based Violence Charter for Colleges and Universities	A charter committed to preventing and addressing gender-based violence in colleges and universities. Organisations pledge to raise awareness, provide support services and implement policies and procedures to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.	UK Higher Education Sector	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO
Engage Watermark (National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement)	A charter mark for universities, recognising outstanding strategic support for, and commitment to improving, public engagement.	UK Higher Education Sector	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO
Fair Chance Pledge	A pledge to provide fair opportunities for individuals with criminal records including initiatives to eliminate discrimination and offer second chances through inclusive hiring practices and support programs. Organisations commit to promoting fair chance employment.	Open to All Sectors	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO
GTRSB into HE Pledge	A pledge to improve representation for people from Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Showman and Boater backgrounds. Organisations commit to undertake steps to support GTRSB students into and within higher education.	UK Higher Education Sector	NO	YES	NO	NO	NO
Gambling Charter	A charter dedicated to promoting responsible gambling practices including initiatives to prevent problem gambling, protect vulnerable individuals and ensure fairness and transparency in gaming and betting activities. Organisations commit to responsible gambling policies.	Open to All Sectors	NO	NO	YES	NO	NO

AdditionalInfo

This list has been compiled with reference to information readily available on the websites associated with each scheme and should be considered a snapshot of the various schemes to which universities have signed up, rather than an authoritative guide.

Always check with the organisations managing each scheme for up-to-date information about their scope and eligibility criteria.

To suggest any additions or updates to the list, contact us using the form at the top of this page.

If you found this list helpful, feel free to subscribe to our occasional updates for details of our other resources, events and services from our team: