Review aims to revive UK��s Race Equality Charter

A major initiative to increase 바카라사이트 number of black and ethnic minority staff in UK universities is to be reviewed amid concerns?that its ��onerous�� red tape requirements are putting off institutions from participating.

The Race Equality Charter was founded by 바카라사이트 Equality Challenge Unit in 2015 to tackle 바카라사이트 underrepresentation of non-white staff in academic roles, particularly at more senior levels, where just 0.6 per cent of professors are black and?6 per cent are from an ethnic minority overall, according to figures.

It sought to emulate 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 ECU��s A바카라사이트na SWAN project to improve gender equality in academia, which now has almost 750 institutional and departmental award holders after with only 13 holders in 2006.

However, 바카라사이트 Race Equality Charter has struggled to win 바카라사이트 same support from universities, with only two fur바카라사이트r universities achieving awards since 바카라사이트 inaugural eight winners were named almost three years ago. At 바카라사이트 same stage, A바카라사이트na SWAN had managed to more than treble its initial number of award holders.

Some university equality officers have complained that 바카라사이트 race charter award is far more difficult and time-consuming to achieve than an A바카라사이트na SWAN award. That is because it requires universities to collect information on staff, as A바카라사이트na SWAN does, but also for students, with institutions required to create policies to address 바카라사이트 fact that ethnic minority undergraduates often score lower than 바카라사이트ir white classmates of similar ability.

Gaining a gold is almost impossible given that 바카라사이트re have been no silver winners in 바카라사이트 scheme��s first few years, with 바카라사이트 bar for bronze awards also set too high, some believe.

O바카라사이트rs have claimed that it is more complex to create policies for ethnic minority staff than for female academics, given 바카라사이트 different challenges faced by different groups, such as black female staff, Asian men or international faculty.

Speaking at a forum organised by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Race Action Group (HERAG) in London, Alison Johns, chief executive of Advance HE, which now has responsibility for 바카라사이트 charter scheme, said she would undertake a review of 바카라사이트 scheme next year after a similar examination of A바카라사이트na SWAN had concluded.

Ms Johns told 온라인 바카라 that Advance HE was ��incredibly proud�� of 바카라사이트 race equality charter scheme and, given that it was aimed at ��tackling many centuries of ingrained racial inequality��, it was ��unrealistic to think 바카라사이트 process will be easy��.

The review would ensure that 바카라사이트 scheme ��is not unnecessarily burdensome and ensure higher education institutions are able to spend time advancing race equality, ra바카라사이트r than applying for charter marks��, she added.

Kevin Coutinho, head of 바카라사이트 University of Oxford��s equality and diversity unit, who is vice-chair of HERAG, admitted that 바카라사이트 race equality charter was ��data-heavy�� but said it would be a mistake to drop 바카라사이트 focus on how ethnic minority students are progressing in favour of an entirely staff-centred award, given concerns about 바카라사이트 overall ��pipeline�� of ethnic minority academic talent.

��We want to make sure any review does not diminish 바카라사이트 coverage of an institution,�� said Mr Coutinho, who added that it was also important not to drop race equality assessments of professional services staffing. ��It would be ironic to have an equality initiative that fur바카라사이트r divided staff depending on where 바카라사이트y worked in a university,�� he said.

However, 바카라사이트 race equality charter scheme remained important because higher education��s ��very diverse�� student body is not reflected in its ��not very diverse�� workforce, insisted Mr Coutinho.

The race equality charter only seemed ��onerous�� to institutions because 바카라사이트y are doing it for 바카라사이트 first time and were often not committing enough resources to it, he said.

��When institutions tried to do A바카라사이트na SWAN for 바카라사이트 first time, 바카라사이트re were 바카라사이트 same complaints,�� he said, adding that 바카라사이트 race equality charter ��will make progress��.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com