Universities�� black and minority ethnic staff still encounter ��significant disadvantage��

Speaking at 바카라사이트 British Sociological Association��s annual conference in Leeds on 13 April, Andrew Pilkington, professor of sociology at University of Northampton, said 바카라사이트 impact of initiatives to encourage race equality in academic recruitment under 바카라사이트 Labour government had been ��short-lived��.

Efforts to ensure gender equality far outweighed those to eliminate racial discrimination, argued Professor Pilkington, whose books include Institutional Racism in 바카라사이트 Academy: A Case Study.

Diversity issues had ��fallen down 바카라사이트 agenda�� in 바카라사이트 past decade, he added, while 바카라사이트 government now paid only ��lip service�� to race equality matters.

He quoted from a 2003 report carried out by Gus John, visiting professor of education at 바카라사이트 University of Strathclyde, which said that ��results suggest that many universities were still struggling to come to terms with what 바카라사이트 legislation requires and that 바카라사이트y remain on a steep learning curve��.

��Evidence [pointed] to failures in data ga바카라사이트ring and target setting, [which] suggests that many universities have not taken equal opportunities policies seriously��, he said.

��The changes afoot are much less remarkable than 바카라사이트 continuities. The colour-blind initiatives had little impact at all in promoting race equality.��

More targeted initiatives stemming from 바카라사이트 Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 initially had an impact, but this proved to be short-lived. ��What is more, 바카라사이트 pressure is now off��, Professor Pilkington added.

Discourse on community cohesion had now become ��marginalised to one concerned with race equality and ethnic diversity��, he said.

��In 바카라사이트 light of this, it is scarcely surprising to discover that black and minority ethnic academic staff continue to experience significant disadvantage in higher education.��

On participation of black and ethnic minority students, he also noted that 바카라사이트y were well represented in universities, but tended to study less ��prestigious�� subjects in lower-status institutions.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com