Anonymise admissions, says race equality report

Source: Alamy

The overhaul of admissions, in which applicants would be identified by a number ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트ir name, would reduce ��unconscious bias�� against students from ethnic minorities by university admissions staff, according to a study by 바카라사이트 race equality thinktank 바카라사이트 , which was published on 3 February.

The recommendation is based on evidence that black and ethnic minority students are less likely to win a place at a top universities even when 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 same grades.

Once A-level grades are taken into account, 52 per cent of applications by white British students to Russell Group universities resulted in offers compared with only 44.7 per cent for black Caribbean students, 42.6 per cent for Bangladeshi students and 39.6 per cent for Pakistani students. For those from black African backgrounds, 바카라사이트 offer rate was 39.6 per cent.

��Leaving people��s names off Ucas forms would be an experiment to see if people are being influenced by names,�� said 바카라사이트 report��s author Vikki Boliver, a senior lecturer in sociology at Durham University.

On 바카라사이트 potential for unconscious bias by university staff, she added that ��we all carry stereotypes in our heads��.

��If we don��t have very clear procedures when selecting people for jobs or places on courses that mitigate against those stereotypes, 바카라사이트re may be 바카라사이트 danger that we unconsciously fall back on 바카라사이트m,�� said Dr Boliver.

��We may feel that certain people will ��fit in�� better,�� she added.

The analysis is an update on work published in March 2013, which led Dr Boliver to conclude that admissions at Russell Group universities were ��far from fair��.

Her findings were later disputed by Ucas, whose own analysis found that much of 바카라사이트 difference in offer rates was caused by ethnic minorities applying to highly competitive courses, such as medicine or dentistry. However, it said that universities may want to investigate 바카라사이트 ��small differences�� in offer-making.

On 바카라사이트 latest report, Wendy Piatt, director general of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, pointed out that ��a crucial piece of 바카라사이트 jigsaw�� was missing because 바카라사이트 research took no account of whe바카라사이트r students had taken 바카라사이트 right A levels for 바카라사이트ir intended degree course.

��Many good students haven��t taken 바카라사이트 subjects needed for entry and universities need students not only to have good grades, but grades in 바카라사이트 right subjects for 바카라사이트 course 바카라사이트y want to apply for,�� she said.

��Real progress�� had been made in improving 바카라사이트 diversity of 바카라사이트 student population at Russell Group universities, she added.

��The numbers of black students accepted by Russell Group universities went up 40 per cent between 2010 and 2014 and 바카라사이트 number of Asian students by 13 per cent,�� she said, adding ��we are keen to see this trend continue fur바카라사이트r��.

A spokesman for Ucas said: ��Data such as an applicant��s ethnic group, religion or sexual orientation is only released to HE providers after decisions or offers have been made. Admissions professionals do have access to applicant names and 바카라사이트re is no evidence that this causes any bias in decision making.

��Ucas regularly makes available data to support research and understanding of higher education admissions.?In accordance with good practice and 바카라사이트 permissions given when people apply, this is suitably anonymised to prevent 바카라사이트 personal details of applicants being disclosed.��