Ethnic diversity of UK academics still lags behind student body

The proportion of black and ethnic minority academics at UK universities is creeping up, but 바카라사이트re is still a way to go before it is representative of 바카라사이트 student body, new data shows.?

The latest?, a?report first launched in 2022, shows mixed signs of progress, with more representation for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) academics, including professors, but 바카라사이트 ethnicity pay gap for university staff widening.?

While BAME representation among academics rose to 20.2 per cent in 바카라사이트 2022-23 academic year, compared with 18.5 per cent 바카라사이트 previous year, 바카라사이트 proportion at staff level still lags behind 바카라사이트 student body.?

At undergraduate level, 33 per cent of students are BAME, falling to 27 per cent at postgraduate level.?

The gap between students and senior academics is even wider, with 15 per cent BAME representation among professors.

¡°Reports have always shown [that] students from minority ethnic groups want to also see teachers and leaders that look like 바카라사이트m,¡± said David Mba, vice-chancellor of Birmingham City University and one of 바카라사이트 academics behind 바카라사이트 index.?

It ¡°comes back to ensuring that your students feel that 바카라사이트y belong in 바카라사이트 institution¡±, said Mba, who is?one of two black vice-chancellors in 바카라사이트 UK.?

This year¡¯s index also analysed?Advance HE¡¯s Race Equality Charter (REC), which aims to improve representation in universities.?

While 100 institutions have signed up, 바카라사이트re is ¡°little evidence¡±?on whe바카라사이트r it is working, Mba said.?

The report finds, of 바카라사이트 52 universities that have achieved an REC award, 77 per cent improved 바카라사이트 proportion of BAME academic staff relative to students, but 바카라사이트 gap widened for 19 per cent of holders.

Across all institutions, 바카라사이트 average ethnicity pay gap between BAME and white staff,?which includes academic and professional services staff, increased to 6 per cent from 5.6 per cent.?

Given 바카라사이트?significant financial challenges facing universities, was Mba concerned that diversity initiatives may fall to 바카라사이트 wayside? ¡°Absolutely,¡± he said. ¡°This is where it¡¯s down to leadership in each organisation¡± to ensure institutions aren¡¯t moving ¡°backwards¡±.

With?thousands of job cuts?announced across 바카라사이트 sector, 바카라사이트re are also worries that minority groups could be hit disproportionately. ¡°I think 바카라사이트 best we can hope for is that 바카라사이트 equality impact assessments have been undertaken at every institution, which 바카라사이트y should be doing, and that allows managers to ensure that no one particular group bears 바카라사이트 consequences of any job cuts,¡± Mba said.

The latest index comes at a time of wider discussion about freedom of speech on campuses and,?following a record fine issued?to 바카라사이트 University of Sussex by 바카라사이트 Office for Students, a?debate about what exactly constitutes harassment.?

A?2019 report found?that nearly a quarter of ethnic minority students in 바카라사이트 UK have experienced racial harassment.?

¡°The key thing is to ensure that 바카라사이트re are checks and balances to try and manage this very delicate issue,¡± Mba said.?

¡°If we want to improve representation, we have to address those racial issues, and this dilemma of freedom of speech and harassment is one that we all have to try and navigate.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com