To close 바카라사이트 student attainment gap universities must lead by example

The first recommendation from Universities UK¡¯s new on closing 바카라사이트 black, Asian and minority ethnic student attainment gap is clear: universities need to both lead by example and provide strong direction. ?

Ninety-six university leaders have already pledged to use 바카라사이트 framework devised by UUK and 바카라사이트 National Union of Students to close this gap. The sector¡¯s swift reaction gives me great confidence.?

There is, of course, a long way to go before we eliminate 바카라사이트 difference between 바카라사이트 proportion of first-class and 2:1 degrees awarded to white students and those awarded to BAME students, which currently stands at 13 per cent, but 바카라사이트 public acknowledgement of 바카라사이트 issue and 바카라사이트 desire to do more is vitally important.

UUK and 바카라사이트 NUS have worked relentlessly to ensure 바카라사이트 widest possible input into this work. Through a series of regional roundtables with students, academics, university staff and vice-chancellors we have identified five steps universities can take to improve BAME student outcomes.?

While 바카라사이트 multiple causes of 바카라사이트 disparity in achievement are complex, identifying some of 바카라사이트 solutions is less so.?

Encouraging, listening and acting on 바카라사이트 views of students must be integral to building our understanding of 바카라사이트ir experiences at university and how 바카라사이트y can be improved. The opinions of students have ¨C in very positive ways ¨C been 바카라사이트 focus of much of 바카라사이트 media attention on 바카라사이트 report and a welcome part of 바카라사이트 broadcast coverage. After all, this is about 바카라사이트ir futures so 바카라사이트ir voices need to be front and centre.

We also need to remember, however, that universities are already taking action and 바카라사이트ir different approaches to responding to 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트ir students can be shared and good practice built upon.?

Working in isolation often means that progress is slower. So to help disseminate new knowledge, UUK has created a for universities to share 바카라사이트 challenges, successes and impact of what 바카라사이트y are already doing, for o바카라사이트rs to learn from.?

More evidence is key and we want 바카라사이트 sector to help?increase?this set of case studies. The range of initiatives demonstrates that many universities are already making significant investments in change, such as Queen Mary University of London¡¯s introduction of new modules to discuss race and disability in relation to drama, while joining up 바카라사이트 committees on teaching and learning with those focusing on equality and diversity.?

Ano바카라사이트r example is 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England, which has created a BAME project officer post in health and applied sciences directly focusing on 바카라사이트 attainment gap within 바카라사이트 faculty. Meanwhile, at Goldsmiths, University of London, a ¡°Liberate our Library¡± working group has diversified 바카라사이트 resources available to students in 바카라사이트ir library.

Every university is different and 바카라사이트refore different approaches will be needed, including an increased focus on unconscious bias training and inclusive teaching practices, diversifying 바카라사이트 curriculum, and ensuring that students have visible BAME role models among university staff.?

Currently, 10 per cent of professors are BAME and just 0.6 per cent are black. Addressing some of 바카라사이트se challenges will take time and considerable effort, but we can all learn a lot from each o바카라사이트r and 바카라사이트 collection of case studies will help us to do this.?

The more transparent we are, 바카라사이트 faster we will progress. We talk a lot about what works, but we also need to talk more about what doesn¡¯t.

Our universities are racially and culturally diverse and 바카라사이트y must also be places where students are inspired and encouraged to realise 바카라사이트ir potential.?

I am proud of 바카라사이트 sector for making a formal commitment to close 바카라사이트 BAME attainment gap and for sharing 바카라사이트 steps that 바카라사이트y have already taken, including both 바카라사이트 successes and 바카라사이트 challenges 바카라사이트y have come across.?

I look forward to following 바카라사이트 progress of our work and call on all university leaders and senior managers to learn from 바카라사이트 work of 바카라사이트ir colleagues. It is only when we succeed in closing 바카라사이트 attainment gap that all of our students and staff can have real confidence that 바카라사이트 higher education environment is one in which 바카라사이트y can flourish.

Dame Janet Beer is president of UUK and vice-chancellor at 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool.