The NMC’s new EDI targets are informed by the Ambitious for Change research programme, including recent research led by Dr Radu Cinpoes, Associate Professor in International Relations at the University of Greenwich.
The latest phase of this research, by the University of Greenwich, found no bias in the NMC’s final decisions, but did highlight bias in how the regulator dealt with Black and/or male professionals compared to white and female counterparts.
The new targets aim to eliminate disparities in the NMC’s Fitness to Practise processes, including disproportionate referrals made by employers, and differential experiences and outcomes in education and training.
The targets have been informed by Ambitious for Change – an NMC research programme to better understand how different groups are affected by our processes.
Dr Radu Cinpoes, Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at the University of Greenwich said:
“I am really glad that I had the opportunity to work alongside John Azah on this research project.
“This was a complex and difficult project, but it was facilitated by the close collaboration with the NMC team, that guided us through navigating the fitness to practise processes.
“In particular, it was reassuring to see that the NMC team that we engaged with provided all the relevant information and data with openness, transparency, and a genuine interest in finding out what the research generates. This enabled us as researchers to maintain complete autonomy and agency with regards to the analysis. The new EDI targets set by the NMC, and to which our research contributed, are encouraging especially in a context in which commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion is under attack.
“We hope that such reinforced ambition to eliminate gaps and biases would have a beneficial impact on the profession.”
