Keble College is pleased to confirm that Mr Diamond Versi's Employment Tribunal claim has been satisfactorily resolved without the need to proceed with the remedies hearing scheduled for 14 July.
The College and Mr Boden had lodged an appeal at the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT). At a preliminary hearing on 12 July the EAT concluded that the appeal in relation to the Employment Tribunal's findings of unlawful discrimination against the College and Mr Boden should proceed to a full hearing. This was a positive step, wholly consistent with the opinion of the College and Mr Boden that the inferences drawn by the Employment Tribunal, which led to the finding of race discrimination, were not merited.
However it has now proved possible to agree an appropriate resolution of the Tribunal claim. Bearing in mind the advantages to both Mr Versi and the College in avoiding further costly and potentially protracted litigation, as well as the inevitable stress on our staff, the appeal will no longer proceed, and both the College and Mr Versi can now look forward and draw a line under what has been a difficult experience for all concerned.
Meanwhile the College continues to focus on demonstrating and delivering its commitment to equality of opportunity. This case illustrates the challenges presented for all employers by the important and rapidly evolving legislative framework. Our staff and student community embraces people from many different ethnic backgrounds and we have taken a number of important new steps to ensure that our commitment to equal opportunities for all is thoroughly embedded at every level in the College. We would like to pay tribute to the work of Oxford University's Diversity and Equal Opportunities Unit for the lead which they provide in this area.
You will appreciate that it would not be appropriate in the circumstances to provide details of the financial terms of the agreement as that is a private matter. We are pleased that this matter is now concluded and wish Mr Versi well for the future.