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BME Update

By ucylapo, on 4 October 2018

As you may have noticed, the distribution of BME articles to lib-list has slowed down considerably in recent months, largely due to a reduction of entries made to the racematters address list.
This may be due to the fact that our primary contributor is spending a great deal of time in preparing the latest UCL Race Equality Charter (REC) application. The UCL EDI office now reports to the Provost who is keen for UCL to again attain the Bronze award and the submission date is getting closer, due at the end of the year.

The REC aims to ‘provide a framework through which institutions are encouraged to identify and reflect on institutional and cultural barriers impacting upon staff and students. Member institutions develop initiatives and solutions for action, and can apply for a Bronze or Silver award, depending on their level of progress’.

Amongst the UCL initiatives to tackle BME staff and student inequalities:

•  UCL are set to publish the latest EDI strategy which is a 10 year plan which is expected to be centred around inclusion for staff and students;

•  The Centre for the study of Racism is expected to be established soon with a masters degree expected to be an eventual offering;

•  Activities around Liberating the Curriculum is on-going;

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/teaching-learning/research-based-education/liberating-curriculum

•  The efforts to reduce the Student attainment gap (3% at UCL) is gaining momentum with Deans declaring their pledge to the cause.

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/news/2018/jul/deans-pledge-further-race-equality-ucl

•  Inclusive Advocacy – A new sponsorship programme has been introduced to ensure high-performing, under-represented groups reach their full potential at UCL.

However, despite the initiatives, a lot of work is still needed to redress the inequality balance. One of our BME medical students and recent former BME student officer wrote a very strong article back in December outlining some serious issues faced by our students:

“Last year when I was studying medicine, I attended a fair held to pick courses for 3rd year and was left disgusted when a student reported one of the tutors saying “Don’t let any Blacks or Hijab-wearing people over here to sign up. I have so many more instances that have come up and receive emails on this every other week.”

With the Library due to roll out a new strategy in the coming months, a BME list of potential ideas/objectives has been submitted to the Library EDI committee. It would be good if the library can make a contribution towards the BME initiatives.

Should you like to share your thoughts and ideas on BME matters please do get in touch.
Thank you to all who contacted me following the many BME articles sent last year, your support is very much appreciated.

Fellow members of the Library EDI committee should also be available should you like to discuss matters on diversity.

“Until we get equality in education, we won’t have an equal society”

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