Scots university awarded Race Equality Charter Bronze mark

A SCOTTISH university has been awarded the Bronze mark of the Race Equality Charter.

The University of Dundee has received the award for a period of five years.

The award was granted in recognition of the work the university has done so far to meet the standards of the Race Equality Charter (REC).

The award recognises the institution’s work to improve the representation, progression and success of minority ethnic staff and students.

This award comes after a report published last year revealed concerns over racism and discrimination at the university.

Professor Iain Gillespie, principal and vice-chancellor of the university, said: “I am hugely encouraged that we have earned the bronze mark of the charter. As I have previously stated, this is the beginning of a process for our university and not at all an end in itself.

“We have a lot more work to do, right across the university and our extended community, to ensure far greater equality, inclusion and representation for those from all minority ethnic backgrounds.”

Gillespie continued: “There is no place for racism, or any other form of discrimination that puts at risk our strongly held values of equality and inclusion, here or anywhere else in our society.

“I am committed to making sure the actions associated with the Race Equality Charter remain a priority of the university.”

The Race Equality Charter provides institutions like the university with a framework to self-reflect on institutional and cultural barriers standing in the way of students and staff.

Professor Hari Hundal, the university’s Race Equality Charter Lead, said, “This award is testament to a tremendous amount of work done by colleagues over the past two years.

“I am pleased to say that work has already started on implementation of some of the actions that we had proposed, including the establishment of a Race Equality Charter Implementation Team who will oversee the delivery of our action plan going forward.”

The June 2021 survey carried out by the university’s Racial Equality Charter reported that 24% of BAME students at the university agreed that they had experienced or witnessed some form of abuse on-campus.

Whilst 40% of BAME students reported experiencing or witnessing abuse off-campus.

Professor Iain Gillespie issued a statement of apology to everyone in the school’s community who may have been a victim of racism.

The apology stated: “My absolute commitment is that this survey must be the start of a process of acceptance of the issues which are laid out in these results, and lead to greater actions to make the university, the city and Scotland a truly fair and equitable place for all, regardless of race.”