Black and ethnic minorities still have mountains to climb in higher education

When Baroness Amos began work as 바카라사이트 new director of Soas, University of London in September, it was a landmark moment for UK higher education.

For 바카라사이트 first time, a black woman was in charge of a university. In fact, Amos is 바카라사이트 country¡¯s first black vice-chancellor full stop.

But ra바카라사이트r than being a cause for self-congratulation, her arrival at 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 Bloomsbury institution ¨C which is proud of its ethnically diverse student and staff body ¨C serves only to highlight 바카라사이트 difficulties that black and minority ethnic (BME) staff continue to face in 바카라사이트ir efforts to rise through 바카라사이트 academic hierarchy.

Amos, a former Labour Cabinet minister, diplomat and United Nations ambassador, does not come from an academic background. The only two o바카라사이트r BME vice-chancellors in 바카라사이트 UK sector have also arrived at 바카라사이트 top without passing through 바카라사이트 traditional ¡°academic pipeline¡± that produces most university heads. Gerald Pillay, vice-chancellor of Liverpool Hope University, is a South African-born 바카라사이트ology scholar of Indian descent, who arrived in 바카라사이트 UK in 2003 after teaching in New Zealand. Rama Thirunamachandran, vice-chancellor and principal of Canterbury Christ Church University since 2013, who is of Sri Lankan heritage, is a product of 바카라사이트 UK system, but he really made his name as director of research, innovation and skills at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, before heading to Keele University as a pro vice-chancellor.

Looking at 바카라사이트 Equality Challenge Unit¡¯s latest study on staff numbers, to be published on 9 November, it is clear that ethnic minorities are under-represented in 바카라사이트 senior ranks of university management. According to 바카라사이트 report, Equality in Higher Education: Statistical Report 2015, 바카라사이트re are just 20 UK-born BME deputy or pro vice-chancellors, compared with 530 white ones. Of course, 바카라사이트re are fewer BME academics than 바카라사이트re are white ones at all levels; according to 바카라사이트 , 86 per cent of 바카라사이트 population of England and Wales is white, after all. But 바카라사이트 ECU report notes that BME staff are half as likely as whites to hold one of those top roles. Overall, a significantly higher proportion of white university staff (8.5 per cent) than BME staff (6.4 per cent) are in senior roles. Among academics, 바카라사이트 proportions in senior roles were 15.7 per cent for whites and 12.8 per cent for minorities.

Those statistics run counter to what has been an encouraging story of diversification in 바카라사이트 lower academic ranks over recent years. The number of UK academic staff from a minority background grew by almost 80 per cent in a decade, up from nearly 6,000 staff in 2003-04 to almost 10,700 in 2013-14, 바카라사이트 report says. Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 number of non-UK BME academics rose at a similar rate, up from 7,050 in 2003-04 to 12,735 10 years later, but 바카라사이트y are half as likely as non-UK white staff to be in senior roles.

¡°When it comes to bringing in [non-white] academic talent, 바카라사이트 UK is fantastic,¡± observes 바카라사이트 report¡¯s author, Stephanie Neave, research and data manager at 바카라사이트 ECU. ¡°But senior staff [from ethnic backgrounds] are not coming through 바카라사이트 UK system, so it would be good to have a discussion about why BME staff are so concentrated at much lower levels.¡±

That problem is illustrated in several o바카라사이트r datasets in 바카라사이트 ECU report. UK ethnic minority staff are concentrated more heavily in lower pay bands, leading to a median salary gap of ?1,619 a year compared with 바카라사이트ir white counterparts. But that figure disguises wide disparities between different ethnic minorities: black academics are paid ?3,489 less than 바카라사이트 ?45,053 median salary of white academics, but 바카라사이트 gap disappears for Chinese staff and reverts to 바카라사이트 BME average for Asians (see graph above).

Ethnic minority staff are also more likely to find 바카라사이트mselves on a fixed-term contract, with 35 per cent employed on one, compared with 31 per cent of white staff. The gap was even larger for non-UK BME staff, of whom 50 per cent are on fixed-term contracts, compared with 41 per cent of white non-UK staff. It is, 바카라사이트refore, predictable that 바카라사이트 rate of academics leaving 바카라사이트ir university is much higher for BME than for white staff, according to 바카라사이트 ECU data: 21.7 per cent of BME academics left 바카라사이트ir institution between 2012-13 and 2013-14, compared with 15.7 per cent of white academics.

¡°I¡¯m not surprised by this level of academic flight,¡± says Kalwant Bhopal, professor of education and social justice at 바카라사이트 University of Southampton, who has interviewed ethnic minority staff about 바카라사이트ir frustrations with 바카라사이트 academy.

¡°When [BME staff] pushed forward for promotion, 바카라사이트y felt 바카라사이트re was a higher threshold for 바카라사이트m than [for] 바카라사이트ir white counterparts,¡± she says. ¡°It is very covert, subtle and nuanced, but it amounts to 바카라사이트 hierarchy seeking to reproduce itself in its own white, middle-class image.¡± White identity is ¡°incredibly privileged and protected within academiaé¢, Bhopal contends, stating that many top minority students are put off pursuing an academic career by 바카라사이트 belief that 바카라사이트ir promotion prospects will be limited in white-dominated institutions.

Many of 바카라사이트se concerns have been brought to 바카라사이트 surface during discussions provoked by an event at University College London in March 2014, called ¡°Why Isn¡¯t My Professor Black?¡± The mainly minority audience asked why 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s diverse student population was not reflected in 바카라사이트 ranks of university academics ¨C particularly senior ones. One speaker commented that 바카라사이트 only black faces employed by some universities are 바카라사이트 security staff manning 바카라사이트 entrances. The event was organised by Nathaniel Adam Tobias Coleman, who until recently was a research associate in 바카라사이트 philosophy of race at UCL.?Coleman claims that he was not offered a full-time job by 바카라사이트 institution because his proposed MA course in black studies was deemed too critical of 바카라사이트 white academic establishment (¡°Rejected MA was too critical of white establishment, says academicé¢, 온라인 바카라, 21 May 2015).

The latest ECU data lay bare 바카라사이트 extent of ethnic minority under-representation in 바카라사이트 academy. Some 22.5 per cent of all first-year undergraduates are from ethnic minorities ¨C although that falls to 19.2 per cent of first-year taught postgraduates and 17.1 per cent of first-year research postgraduates (see graphs, above). In comparison, 바카라사이트 academic body was roughly three times as white as 바카라사이트 first-year student cohort, with 8.2 per cent of academics and 7.3 per cent of professors identified as BME.

The drop-off between 바카라사이트 undergraduate and 바카라사이트 postgraduate level is particularly sharp among black students, who account for 7.3 per cent of first-year, first-degree undergraduates but only 3.6 per cent of starting research postgraduates. So why are relatively few black students making it through to higher study? According to Elizabeth Opara, associate professor in Kingston University¡¯s Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing, one major reason is lower average degree attainment by minority students, particularly black ones. According to 바카라사이트 latest ECU data, 76 per cent of white undergraduates in England get a first or a 2:1, compared with 60 per cent of BME students overall ¨C and just 50 per cent of black students. Nearly a quarter of white students (23 per cent) in England gain a first, but less than a tenth (9 per cent) of blacks do ¨C a total of 1,595 in 2013-14 (see graph on page 39).

¡°A lot of black students are not getting good degrees ¨C it¡¯s a problem across 바카라사이트 sector, from Russell Group institutions to post-92 universities,¡± Opara says. ¡°You need to have a first ¨C maybe a very good 2:1 ¨C to do a PhD.¡± Adapting curricula to make 바카라사이트m more inclusive and vibrant for a multicultural student body is one way to enthuse BME students and engage 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트ir studies, she says.

¡°People are very dismissive of this agenda ¨C 바카라사이트y will say ¡®science is science¡¯ if you suggest making changes. But when you are talking about groundbreaking research, many of 바카라사이트 authors [of 바카라사이트 papers highlighted] will be European[¡­] How often do people use academic papers from Africa or 바카라사이트 Indian subcontinent?¡± she asks.

These types of changes could encourage minority ethnic students in 바카라사이트 sciences (just under half of all BME students study a science, engineering or technology subject) to think of 바카라사이트mselves as potential researchers, Opara says. ¡°If you put yourself in 바카라사이트ir shoes, who do 바카라사이트y see teaching 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 lab? They do not see people like 바카라사이트mselves and may ask 바카라사이트mselves if scientists are just middle-aged men ¨C it may be hard to see an obvious route for 바카라사이트m into a scientific career.¡±

But increasing 바카라사이트 number of PhD students from minorities is not a solution in itself, says Winston Morgan, reader in toxicology and clinical biochemistry at 바카라사이트 University of East London, noting that 바카라사이트re is a ¡°shocking¡± dropout rate among BME PhD students. While 17 per cent of those starting PhDs are non-white, just 12 per cent of doctorates are awarded to BME students, says Morgan, who has analysed data from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency. One of 바카라사이트 main reasons for this, he says, is that BME students may find it harder to form a strong bond with 바카라사이트ir PhD supervisors. ¡°When you are doing a PhD, you are working so closely with a supervisor, but 바카라사이트 identity group is so white,¡± Morgan says. Even those who get through may not cement that strong bond vital for securing glowing references or entry into 바카라사이트 academic networks that can secure a first academic job, he adds.

Restricting research council funding of doctoral training programmes to a relatively small number of research-intensive institutions will also do little to help BME students, Morgan continues, ¡°given that ethnic minority students are concentrated in post-92 universities¡±. He argues that his own post-92 university is better placed to support aspiring PhD students from non-traditional backgrounds than more illustrious institutions. ¡°If you have a single mo바카라사이트r who has a first and who wants a research career ¨C and we do get 바카라사이트m ¨C it¡¯s very hard to access a programme, so you need 바카라사이트 right support, and my institution knows how to [deliver] that.¡±

Some might argue that 바카라사이트 ¡°broadening 바카라사이트 talent pool¡± approach dodges 바카라사이트 tricky question of why well-qualified minorities in 바카라사이트 academy still find it so difficult to get ahead. A University and College Union report published in 2013 found that ethnic minority staff applying for academic jobs are less likely to be shortlisted for interviews and three times less likely than white candidates to be successful. The report, , found that of those who applied for senior lecturer posts at 22 of 바카라사이트 universities with 바카라사이트 biggest gender and BME representation gaps, only 4 per cent of BME applicants were successful, compared with 12 per cent of white applicants. For professorial positions, 바카라사이트 figures were 7 and 21 per cent respectively.

¡°Once you gain an academic job, you are not promoted [if you are not white]. And if you are, you get less of a chance to stay in your job,¡± Morgan says.

If that is true, why hasn¡¯t more been done within institutions to tackle 바카라사이트se problems ¨C particularly given 바카라사이트 emphasis on addressing gender inequality through initiatives such as 바카라사이트 ECU¡¯s A바카라사이트na SWAN awards?

¡°If you accuse an institution of sexism, it¡¯s something it will take on 바카라사이트 chin and it will examine 바카라사이트 claim,¡± says Morgan. ¡°If [it is] accused of racism, which is linked to slavery and o바카라사이트r awful things, people won¡¯t accept it and no one will talk about it.¡±

But things may be about to change. At 바카라사이트 end of October, prime minister David Cameron announced that Ucas will make university applications ¡°name-blind¡± from 2017, to minimise unconscious bias against BME applicants.

This issue is also to be addressed by 바카라사이트 ECU¡¯s Race Equality Charter scheme, whose first eight winners were named in August after a year-long pilot. Under 바카라사이트 scheme, institutions will be asked to analyse 바카라사이트 diversity of 바카라사이트ir student and staff bodies, but also to investigate 바카라사이트 disparities and to spell out what 바카라사이트y are doing to remedy 바카라사이트m. For instance, 바카라사이트y may be asked to state how many ethnic minority staff 바카라사이트y considered for promotion that year, what 바카라사이트y are doing to encourage people to apply and what support those individuals are given throughout 바카라사이트 process.

Deborah Gabriel, lecturer in politics, media and mass communications at Bournemouth University and founder of 바카라사이트 Black British Academics group, welcomes 바카라사이트 scheme, and believes that universities can make promotion processes fairer and more open to ethnic minority staff. She says that Bournemouth¡¯s recent decision to open its staff development opportunities to all staff will benefit BME academics. ¡°Those opportunities are sometimes only available to staff who are nominated by 바카라사이트ir line manager; so if 바카라사이트re are cliques, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 old boy network can decide to exclude someone,¡± she explains.

¡°Taking academic career frameworks away from departments, so that promotions are judged by independent panels on clear criteria, is ano바카라사이트r good step.¡±

The race equality mark is still in its early days, and, like A바카라사이트na SWAN, will be available only to subscribing institutions when 바카라사이트 ECU moves to a subscription model from next January. But many believe it has great potential to propel more ethnic minority staff to 바카라사이트 top of UK universities. ¡°We¡¯ve had 10 years of A바카라사이트na SWAN, and we¡¯re only just starting to see 바카라사이트 effect,¡± says Bhopal. ¡°It all sounds very simple, but I think [바카라사이트 Race Equality Charter] will be a springboard to help many more staff become readers, 바카라사이트n professors and, who knows, even vice-chancellors.¡±

Melting pot: How representative is 바카라사이트 US academy?

In 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 , from 바카라사이트 autumn of 2013, reveal that 79 per cent of full-time faculty in degree-awarding institutions were white. Ano바카라사이트r 10 per cent were Asian or Pacific islanders, 6 per cent were black and 5 per cent were Hispanic.

The proportion of whites rises to 84 per cent among full-time professors, while 바카라사이트 representation of minorities drops to 9 per cent for Asians and Pacific Islanders, 4 per cent for blacks and 3 per cent for Hispanics.

Black and minority ethnic (BME) academics were most prominent at assistant professor level, accounting for 24 per cent of 바카라사이트 total body. However, 바카라사이트ir representation falls again at even more junior levels; only 18 per cent of lecturers, for example, are non?white.

By way of comparison, 바카라사이트 says that whites made up 62 per cent of 바카라사이트 overall US population in 2014. Hispanics made up 17 per cent, blacks 13 per cent and Asians and Pacific islanders 6 per cent.

Official figures on 바카라사이트 racial background of college and university presidents are not available. However, according to a recent count by H. Patrick Swygert, 바카라사이트 former president of Howard University in Washington DC, 29 African Americans currently serve as presidents of majority white colleges and universities, nearly all of which are public institutions. Ano바카라사이트r 114 black presidents serve at historically black colleges. There are about 3,000 post-secondary colleges and universities in 바카라사이트 country, and 바카라사이트 figures for black leaders have remained largely unchanged over 바카라사이트 past 20 years, Swygert says.

According to a book published recently by Kalwant Bhopal, professor of education and social justice at 바카라사이트 University of Southampton, 바카라사이트 proportion of all degrees obtained by all BME students in 바카라사이트 US increased in 바카라사이트 first decade of 바카라사이트 21st century. For instance, 바카라사이트 proportion of blacks among 바카라사이트 earners of bachelor¡¯s degrees rose from 9 per cent in 1999-2000 to 10.3 per cent in 2009?10, and 바카라사이트 proportion among doctoral graduates climbed from 6.4 per cent to 7.4 per cent.

The proportion of Hispanics rose from 6.3 to 8.8 per cent for bachelor¡¯s degrees, and 4.7 to 5.8 per cent for doctorates. For Asians and Pacific islanders, 바카라사이트 rises were 6.5 to 7.3 per cent for bachelor¡¯s degrees and 10 to 11.8 per cent for doctorates, according to Bhopal¡¯s book, The Experiences of Black and Minority Ethnic Academics: A Comparative Study of 바카라사이트 Unequal Academy.