We’re proud to have been awarded the Race Equality Charter Bronze Award by AdvanceHE, after submitting in July and undergoing a thorough evidence-led self-assessment process.
The Race Equality Charter bronze award recognises the University’s efforts and commitment to improve the representation, progression and success of minority ethnic staff and students; acknowledging that we cannot reach our full potential unless we benefit from the talents of our whole community, and until all individuals from all ethnic backgrounds can benefit equally from the opportunities available.
The Race Equality Charter is underpinned by a number of key principles, including an acknowledgement that: ‘Racial inequalities are a significant issue within higher education. Racial inequalities are not necessarily overt, isolated incidents. Racism is an everyday facet of UK society and racial inequalities manifest themselves in everyday situations, processes and behaviours.’
The Race Equality Charter provides a framework through which institutions can work to identify and address institutional and cultural barriers faced by minority ethnic staff and students. For the past three years, over 2,000 staff and students have participated in the self-assessment process, surveys, focus groups, events and discussions to inform our REC submission and action plan to advance race equality and inclusion at the University.
Mark E. Smith, Vice-Chancellor said:
| “I am delighted that our self-assessment and action plan have been recognised by a Bronze award, evidencing our commitment to tackling racial inequalities. Thank-you for the hard work from all those involved in getting us to this point. This award however, is a starting point, not an end point.
Since taking up post as President and Vice-Chancellor in October 2019, I have strengthened our commitment to Equality Diversity and Inclusion, placing it at the heart of our new University strategy, supported by a five-year strategic plan for EDI launched in autumn 2020. Visible, proactive leadership of this agenda from the top of the institution is vital, and one element of this is the recruitment of an Associate Vice-President (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Social Justice). I will ensure we continue to develop and invest in the initiatives outlined in the action plan to ensure enduring change.” |
Kieron Broadhead, Race Equality Charter Sponsor and Co-Chair:
| “We are committed to delivering a bold and ambitious action plan to address and remove the visible and invisible barriers our Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff and students face every day; creating an inclusive university community and enabling equality of opportunity where all staff and students can flourish regardless of their race or ethnicity.
We recognise that this is the start of our journey and findings from our REC self-assessment underline the need for more to be done by every one of us, as individuals and as teams, as we hold a mirror up to ourselves. I look forward to working together to build an anti-racist university.” |
Bhupinder Siran, Race Equality Charter Co-Chair, UoS REACH Network Chair:
| “The race equality charter self-assessment has provided the University with a framework by which the institutional and cultural barriers that stand in the way of Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff and students have been exposed and helped us have difficult, necessary and meaningful conversations about race equality and inclusion. We now have the roadmap for action and this bronze award gives us the mandate to continue these important conversations and take transformative action to address racial inequalities at the University.
As the REACH staff network chair and new Race Equality co-chair I also see opportunity for greater partnership and collaboration across the staff network and race equality action group at the University. Collective ownership is critical; each of us has a role to play in doing the necessary work to make sure our university becomes genuinely inclusive and actively anti-racist, in practice as well as intention.” |
It is important that we share the knowledge and insight gained in producing our Race Equality submission:
- Read our full submission and action pack that are now publicly available.
- REC Summary Document: Race Equality Charter 2022 Summary.pdf
- Join our Race Equality webinar to find out more.
