Race Equality Charter award for St Andrews

The University of St Andrews has achieved a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award in recognition of its work to advance race equality.

AdvanceHE’s Race Equality Charter (REC) aims to help universities and research institutes in their work to improve the representation, progression and success of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people in higher education.

The successful application is the culmination of several years of hard work by a committed team, led by Dr Akira O’Connor as Chair. As part of the bid, a Self-Assessment Team (SAT) was created. The SAT included four working groups – the Student Lifecycle, chaired by Dr Dharini Balasubramaniam; the Staff Lifecycle, chaired by Dr Prabs Dehal and then Dr Shruti Narayanswamy; Curriculum, chaired by Jasmin Hinds and then Dr Amritesh Singh; and Culture, chaired by Dr Catherine Dunford.

Each working group comprised staff and students drawn from across the University who examined data, listened to people’s experiences, and generated actions that will advance race equality at St Andrews.

The responsibility for these actions sits with senior colleagues, including Dr Rebekah Widdowfield, Vice-Principal (People and Diversity), who also sits on the Self-Assessment Team as REC Sponsor, and Principal, Professor Dame Sally Mapstone FRSE.

Dr O’Connor said: “Our warmest thanks go to everyone who contributed to the REC application and to those who laid the groundwork for it. This achievement would not have been possible without those who have worked over many years to further race equality at St Andrews.

“REC accreditation is not an end in itself. It has, however, provided a mechanism by which to raise the profile of race equality at St Andrews, and a framework with which to identify and reduce the barriers faced by staff and students of colour.

“This has been painstaking, and often painful work, requiring us to reflect deeply on our culture, where we are getting it right and where we need to do better. But it is work that is absolutely necessary if we are to deliver on our goal of improving race equality here.”

REC accreditation marks the start of the next phase of the University’s race equality work – delivery of our REC Action Plan. To generate this plan, the REC team examined a large volume of data, including the results of race equality-focused surveys and focus groups. The working groups then devised actions, which were refined through a series of institutional consultation events. The action plan, submitted as part of the REC application, was integral to its success with the judging panel.

Dr O’Connor said: “Over the coming months, we will progress actions that shore up the foundations of safety and belonging that are essential for people of colour to thrive at St Andrews. We will re-examine how we recruit staff and students of colour, and ensure that, once here, people of colour can fulfil their career development and educational goals without impediment.

“We will take inspiration from the brilliant work that individual Schools and Units are carrying out, and ensure that all departments are given the opportunity to promote race equality in ways that best meet their specific needs. We will work with local schools and community groups to ensure that the vision for St Andrews that we have worked hard to communicate in our REC application is shared with enthusiasm and with strength.

“Now is an exciting time to be engaging in race equality work at St Andrews.”

The full Race Equality Charter application will be published on the website in due course, alongside the action plan.