The University welcomes Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) inquiry
The EHRC have recently released their report, "Tackling Racial Harassment: Universities Challenged", an inquiry into racial harassment in UK Higher Education.
The EHRC launched the enquiry in 2018, gathering evidence from staff and students at publicly funded universities across Britain. The report examined their experiences of racial harassment and the effect they might have on their education, career and wellbeing.
To view EHRC's report, visit the webpage below.
Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
The University has a strong and long-standing commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and to promoting a positive culture which celebrates difference, challenges prejudice and ensures fairness. However, we recognise there is more for us to do in this area.
We proactively and independently conducted our own institution-wide review between 2018 and 2019, looking at the experiences of our black and ethnic minority students.
We consulted widely with our students in order to better understand their experiences of race and ethnicity within the University environment and highlight the challenges that our BME students still face.
As a result of our most recent activity in this area, the University has already committed to:
- Produce specific advice and guidance for students who have experienced racial harassment or discrimination and publish this by January 2020.
- Introduce “Report and Support” for students who have experienced racial harassment or discrimination by July 2020
- Ensure all conduct investigators have received specific training in investigating allegations of racial harassment or discrimination by January 2020.
- Set up a task group to take forward the recommendations from our internal report and EHRC findings
Academically, we are also contributing to raising awareness of the wider issue with a report published this month by researchers from our own School of Social and Political Science which looked at the prevalence of racial discrimination across the whole of Scotland.
Related links
EHRC inquiry into racial harassment in UK Higher Education
Promoting inclusion, equality and diversity in the curriculum project
Thematic Review of Support for black and minority ethnic (BME) Students