Good morning everyone, guessing you arrived early to get the good seats and hottest coffees :)

Here is the piece that Amatey mentioned: https://wonkhe.com/blogs/turning-race-equity-strategy-into-meaningful-action/

We’ll share slides following the event for those hoping to see that map in more detail!

I am pleased to have found Birmingham City Uni's strategy quite easily

Clear policy for University of Salford

Oh Hi from Salford too, @Ange!

Newcastle University REC Action Plan is easy to find.

Glasgow Caledonian Uni - 'tackling racism at GCU'

Nottingham Trent University Race Action Plan is easily found

Clear policies for the Open University. Work in progress across the Faculties and administrative departments.

Middlesex University easy to find plus a new Pro Vice Chancellor role to lead on EDI

Remember to toggle to Panelists and Attendees - your chat box defaults to posts only being visible to panelists.

Forgot to toggle, thank you Debbie. NTU plan found fairly easily - https://www.ntu.ac.uk/about-us/news/news-articles/2020/12/ntus-vice-chancellor-launches-the-race-equality-action-plan

Happy to say this is easy to find for University of Surrey

Warwick has some information within Inclusion and E D & I- so search terms not great unless you know what to look for. E D & I has Anti-Racism resources & training info.

University of Liverpool action plan and guidance easy to find too

Found the Oxford Brookes Race Equality Strategy and Action Plan

Equality and Diversity policy easily found - University of Gloucestershire

.University of Exeter's policies and action plan are also easy to find and the Race Equality Charter Mark work is highlighted

We have a BAME Awarding Gap project: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/teaching-learning/education-strategy/1-personalising-student-support/bame-awarding-gap-project-supporting-student

Any questions for Amatey, do post them here or in the Q&A box

Found Uni of Cambridge's Race and Equality Charter and action plan.

DMU Race Equality Charter easy to discover

Surrey's EDI strategy and Race Equality action plan easy to find https://www.surrey.ac.uk/equality-diversity-and-inclusion/racial-equality/how-we-work-towards-racial-equality

Royal Holloway REC found here https://intranet.royalholloway.ac.uk/staff/your-employment/human-resources/equality-and-diversity/race-and-ethnicity-race-equality-charter.aspx

At Leeds there is the Race Equality Framework 2020 in the Equality & Inclusion Unit

Is there a large piece about our white colleagues speaking to and with each other about racism that needs including?

University of Glasgow Action plan easy to find/access

Broader pledges: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/equality-areas/race-equality

Found Cambridge's policy very easily: https://www.race-equality.admin.cam.ac.uk/strategic-initiatives-overview/race-equality-charter

www.slido.com - type in #WonkheBLM to the box

University of Glasgow has made good strides (but always room for improvement): https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/students/bame/

Uni of Bath: https://www.bath.ac.uk/guides/race-equality-taskforce/. Good to have named lead & group, action plan needs to be formed though

University of East Anglia https://www.uea.ac.uk/about/equality-diversity-and-inclusion/standards-and-frameworks/race-equality-charter

University of Brighton is here: https://www.brighton.ac.uk/about-us/your-university/equality/race-equality.aspx

Are there any recommended types of questions one could use if doing a consultation?

University of Salford’s policy here https://www.salford.ac.uk/equality-and-diversity

UWE Bristol's 2030 EDI strategy is here: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/about/values-vision-strategy/equality-diversity-and-inclusivity/policies

https://www.londonmet.ac.uk/media/london-metropolitan-university/london-met-documents/professional-service-departments/centre-for-equity-and-inclusion/Race-Equity-Strategic-Plan.pdf

Such an impressive strategic plan. Thanks

awarding gap target is impressive: would love to hear about key factors for London Met that will make this reality (I presume all the strategy underpins this!)

https://www.londonmet.ac.uk/media/london-metropolitan-university/london-met-documents/professional-service-departments/centre-for-equity-and-inclusion/Race-Equity-Strategic-Plan.pdf

London Met race equity strategy: https://www.londonmet.ac.uk/media/london-metropolitan-university/london-met-documents/professional-service-departments/centre-for-equity-and-inclusion/Race-Equity-Strategic-Plan.pdf

QUESTION to Sofia and Alex. This is refreshingly impressive thanks. Can I ask about slef-care work for Black, Asian and ethnically minoritised female staff in particular who have been so negatively impacted in different ways by institutional racism throughout their education and HE journeys?

Does the Plan allow for outreach work with local schools and community to bring in disparate views from those who are not engaging with HE?

What tools do you have in place for staff to report racism/discrimination?

At SOAS, we have the Report + Support system which can be used by staff and students - either anonymous or named reporting

Critical conversation cafes - discussion supported by resources: https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/B9FD8A75-AFD4-1249-E79B-BA7A270A3970.html

Regarding mental health how can we improve access and reduce stigma?

That's brilliant Sofia, thanks. Will check out Goldsmith.

Thanks Alex for mentioning Small Steps. The purposeful collective and supportive work is so important. Definitely brings me joy, safety and is reenergising :)

To Paul Dodsley, we've (QAA Scotland) supported some work on the mental wellbeing of BAME students - you can find webinar recordings and other resources here (Amatey was a presenter at the first event)https://www.enhancementthemes.ac.uk/resilient-learning-communities/collaborative-clusters/student-mental-wellbeing-within-our-bame-and-lgbtq-learner-communities

A piece from Sofia on what decolonising curriculum really means: https://eachother.org.uk/decolonising-the-curriculum-what-it-really-means/

Well said, Sofia!

I love the idea of the critical conversations café - thanks for the link - is this something that takes place in a live F2F environment as well, with the reading list to support this?

Totally agree Sofia

Preach Sofia!

We need senior leaders who want to listen, who want to engage, truly engage and not just use beautiful words.

Goldsmiths Extenuating circumstances - racial trauma https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jun/17/goldsmiths-to-allow-students-suffering-racial-trauma-to-apply-for-extensions?utm_campaign=Staff%20News%2018%2006%202021&utm_source=emailCampaign&utm_content=&utm_medium=email

Agreed @Cecilia. The listening element is so important.

Thanks Sofia, agree we need our senior leadership to be bold, purposeful and action focused (and really important point about honesty)

Yes senior leaders need to express their vulnerability and be open to being educated

Agree Cecelia

Thank you to Sofia and Alex - great work by you both. You mentioned that all students will learn about Black British experience regardless of course. How will this be embedded?

Sofia and Alex : You both are just fab! Thank you.

Such an inspiring session, cannot thank you all enough for this

Thank you Sofia and Alex, that was brilliant.

Senior white leaders also need to courageously step aside and make space. This is really not easy.

I think this is so interesting, as London is so diverse as opposed to other parts of the UK

A really valuable input- thank you both very much!

Thank you Sofie and Alex.

Sofia sorry!

Thank you both Alex and Sofia. Great work and keep it up :)

Excellent thanks Alex and Sofia :)

Thanks both, really interesting.

Thanks so much Sofia & Alex!

Thank you both. Excellent work

Thanks Alex & Sofia

Thank you both - great to hear about the work you are doing.

Thank you both!!

All good!

Fantastic to hear from London Met team, doing really great work! THanks!

Thanks both!

thank you very much! good to see you again Alex

Thank you Alex and Sofia!

brilliant discussion and contribution to the day - thank you both very much :-)

Keep up the great work Alex and Sofia!

Thank you Alex and Sofia

this is the most epic music for making a cuppa.

Haha, so true Luke

Apologies, I have to leave for another commitment. Thank you Sofia, Alex and Amatey for great insights and shared experiences.

@Luke if you see the size of my cuppa you’ll understand the epic music!

@Debbie, I’m on my ‘Mr Greedy’ mug this morning, I think it’s about a pint!

@Luke EPIC!

Good Morning ALL from University of Glasgow, just joined...

What a great name, Unapologetically BAME!

Yes I agree Nicole!

Welcome Unwa, nice to have you here! (Oxford Brookes University)

Have you taken specific positive action eg. via BAME traineeships for pipeline and progression into library workforce given it is overwhelmingly white profession - eg. Kings Fund did this

Does critical race theory underpin the systematic approach to this decolonising work?

Cultural differences/ awareness is key.

@linda Greening yes Freedom from the Urban Riding Academy

Have you introduced a meaningful measure for individual behaviour change and performance into appraisals

Thanks for your answer, Kaushika. Understand that the work can never end, but was just curious how long it’s taken so far. Thanks for your answer!

Is decolonisation being rolledout in institutions in Scotland?

Thanks fantastic Kaushika, that black and brown people could be paid properly for this decolonising work and emotional labour within the library service.

On that note, have you found an institution strap line on race equity helps with staff buy in?

Hi Urwa I’m a Glasgow Uni staff person. Might want to check out the racial equality report that was recently compiled: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/students/bame/understandingracism/

Thanks Lizanne - will check it out!

Are 'BME' staff networks funded anywhere?

Thanks Kaushika!

Thank you both- really valuable.

Thank you!

Thank you, Kaushika!

Thanks!

thanks both! very encouraging and inspiring!

@Urwa I’m also Glasgow Uni and I know there is currently fudging application in to begin decolonising the curriculum in Life Sciences, not sure whats happening in other disciplines.

Excellent presentation of the DMU decolonising work, Thanks

Thank you so much!

Thank u both inspiring and motivating.

Great work at DMU.

Excellent work at DMU. Thank you!

@Kirsten Interesting- Thank you.

Yes, Wayne is fantastic! https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/218193/prize-winning-students-share-learning-teaching-research/ or https://www.imperial.ac.uk/equality/staff-networks/imperial-as-one/

Yes, my HEI (only) does things if there's money in it cf Athena Swan work

Thanks Rotimi for the reality check.

Spot on Rotimi

Couldn't agree more Rotimi. e.g. in HE the Race Equality Charter Mark could be compulsory for HEIs to receive any research funding. It worked for Athena SWAN.

Absolutely agree. Similar situation with brands advertising on certain channels. If they know it may hit their bottom line, even corporate entities will consider how important an anti-racist stance is and will consider the reputational damage from being associated with so-called 'anti-woke' brands or organisations

Funding and regulation leverage - OfS, UKRI

Yes Dorothy. So right. Progress ('doing the work') without impact (HE transformation) just doesn't cut it and never has.

Pauline Rutter - Similar approaches are being considered and taken when it comes to tackling harassment and sexual misconduct. I think one of the next stage of our thinking needs to be how we look at and learn from all of the Inclusion & Diversity work happening across the sector. Essentially all of the work happening is with the purpose of creating safer campuses and HE experiences for staff and students. A lot of the work needs to be targeted, yes, but if they all happen in silos we’ll be missing vital learnings that can propel this work forward

I'm in the people development team at The University of Sheffield and I'm working closely with the EDI team to support in creating some awareness training for staff - can I ask the panels' opinion on critical race theory, and if we should be adding awareness/resources etc. on White Privilege? There are differing opinions from the EDI team (with lived experience of racism) of awareness of white privilege vs dominant group privilege (e.g. BAME people may experience the same injustices in another county which is not predominantly white). Does the panel feel critical race theory/white privilege should be signposted to?

When given 'power and resources' my black and brown associates are never timid in the anti-racist work they do and their activism in and outside of the academy. So inspiring.

Thanks so much, but need to leave for another meeting - this has been a great session

Thanks for the optimism Arun Verma . It’s another strategy for self care for those involved in this work.

Anyone who needs to leave, don’t forget you’ll get the recording afterwards, so you can catch up!

QUESTION: Are we allowed to mention critical race theory in this decolonising work and activism the erasure that has occurred over the decades of this work being done by so many black and brown academics and students and their allies?

Thanks Debbie. I need to leave too. Wonderful session and some valuable discussions. Thanks to all speakers.

If/as degree awarding gaps have widened through Covid - how do we use this for better awareness of structural racism and white prvilege in action

Yes amazing point Arun!

Thanks to all for an informative event. I need to leave too.

There’s a US university where student-led university transformation activity is essentially credit-bearing.

Good point Dorothy - so important.

Great point

Wow, great response Dorothy, inspirational

Universities also need to consider when they are asking for feedback/consultation - where are we in the assessment cycle? Are you giving opportunities outside of office hours (students have jobs too)? Are you asking during uni holidays?

This is such an important point - remuneration (be it paid or in time) is so seldom addressed in these targeted approaches. Thank you Dorothy

Amazing point thanks Dorothy!

Thanks Dorothy!

Well said Dorothy-not paying for student expertise sends a clear (and negative) message- so an own goal!

Thank you so much for today. It has been geat to hear from you all and the work you

are doing

Great point Dorothy. It mirrors exactly what our students said in our Student Voice survey. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b8e3cf539Well said Dorothy. It entirely mirrors the call made in our Student Voice survey. 17ee05c8f147c7/t/60c33f830f65ed78d3d68c19/1623408521745/Student+Voice+Report+%281%29.pdf

In terms of both staff and students, could a form of remuneration be experience that can be evidenced on a CV for example. A lot of the time these conversations happen at high level with SLT that some members of staff or students may not normally engage with. In terms of progression, can members of staff or students be brought in to diversify panels who have maybe contributed to some of these conversations again to use as experience as there is a gap in the number of minorities in senior roles

@Karley great idea!

Student partnership, as mentioned earlier?

Remuneration can sometimes be a barrier for participation of tier 4 visa students. Other compensation for their time should be considered

That's quite a statistic Omar.

Yes student/staff partnership, but also experience because we arent getting chosen in some cases based on experience so if those who want to contribute to the conversations are actually given opportunities to practice sharing ideas in a formal settings such as decision making

Agree 100% about professional staff. They are part of our university communities and should be part of this conversation

We also need to be alive to the very deliberate political efforts to discredit CRT - universities have a role in advancing public understanding about it

Spot on!

I agree entirely

Sorry, need to go to a meeting. Thank you so much and good luck with all your work (hopefully work that's truly valued and allowed to be transformative!)

Thank you Arun, you have made that so clear. Centering black and brown voices and working collectively to shift the narrative around the power, privilege and fragility 'dragon.' Why do some people find the language so scary I wonder?

It threatens the status quo - they're not going to give up their power and privileges easily!

I wrote an article about the role fo theoretical perspectives (v much informed by discussion with Amatey) when he first approached me about this event: https://wonkhe.com/blogs/acknowledging-institutional-racism-is-only-the-first-step/

So well said Dorothy!

Oh yess!

Thanks so much all- a really valuable session today! I need to leave for another meeting now.

Very clear and hard-hitting points from all

Wonderfully said Dorothy :)

So excellent Dorothy. Yes lets get on and do some good work. THanks

Thank you to all speakers. Some inspirational work being undertaken across HEIs, which is really encouraging and great ideas we can use. This has been really a refreshing and empowering session. Thank you Amatey, Debbie and WonkHE.

Thanks so much everyone

thank you all for this conversation

Thank you so much everyone.

Thank you Amatey and all - for such a wide-ranging and insightful series of sessions with so many practical take-aways.

Brilliant session, thank you panellists.

Brilliant - thank you all so much

Thanks to everyone on the panel - fantastic. So much to think about.

Thanks to all the speakers this morning. This has been such a great session to attend.

Thank you so much - brilliant event!

Thanks everyone for today's sessions.

Brilliant - thanks so much everyone - enlightening, engaging and inspiring, from the panel, the speakers and the comments box - thanks all!

A really great session - thank you to everyone.

Thank you! Thanks to all.

Excellent thank u all speakers.

Thank you this has been incredibly valuable

Another great discussion. Lots of take-aways.

Can Dorothy's next job be PM?!

Fascinating and insightful session - thanks to all for such brilliant contributions.

What a great event! Thank you so much for your time and expertise, everyone.

Really good discussion, thanks to all the contributors today!

Thank you so much everyone

A great event - well done everyone

Great presentations and discussion, thanks to everyone!

Thank you so much everyone!

Many thanks to all the speakers - a great event

That you so much to all the speakers!

Great Work!! Thanks to All!!

Great seminar thanks :-)

Well led Amatey and a great panel of speakers. Thanks WonkHE.

Brilliant event. Thank you

Fantastic Amatey and Debbie. Great job :)

Fantastic session - thanks to all.

Absolutely fabulous today, thank you to all involved

This was brilliant, thank you!!! Will presentations be shared??

Thank you to all hosts and panellists- great event

Thank you very much!

Said at the very end, awesome!

Thank you all

Thank you! Really great!

Thank you all - great session

Thank you :)

Thanks for a great session!

Thank you all

Thank you, very inspirational