Race Equality Week 2020

‌Throughout the week we have a number of forums for conversation, engagement and action planned, included a joint BME Staff, Student and Allies Network and Provost Commission ‘Let’s Talk’ Session, focussing on the UUK Report and Recommendations on tackling Racial Harassment in HE. Having undertaken a comprehensive gap analysis, we will be discussing our proposed action plan with members of our networks in order to hear from our community with lived experience on what areas they want the institution to prioritise as we move forward in our anti-racism journey.  Vrinda Nayak, Associate Academic Dean for Racial Equality and Inclusion, commented “we know as an Institution it is vitally important that we tackle racial inequality, and I am very much looking forward to attending this week’s Let’s Talk session in order to help identify the key priorities with our community.  Ultimately, these actions plans will be instrumental in achieving a better experience for students and staff from Black Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds at the University.”

Niema Bohrayba, the Race Equality Charter Manager, will also be presenting at a number of forums during Race Equality week, alongside discussing our developing Race Equality Charter action plan and highlighting how our wider university community can get involved in the development of the plan.

Finally, this week, we are also excited to announce that the first round of our funding for student-led Anti-Racism projects has been allocated, in conjunction with the Education Incubator. The first tranche has funded five projects, covering issues such as microaggressions within sports societies, policy clinics and a project focussing on decolonising the politics curriculum. We are so excited about the creativity and passion that the students showed in these project applications and look forward to seeing the outcome of their activities.  You can read all about the projects that have received funding here.

If you want to get involved with any of our anti-racism initiatives, please contact the Business Managers to the Provost, Lizzie and Jen, on caughey.fook@exeter.ac.uk.