Excited to be attending the @UniversitiesUK webinar on Turning words into actions: Eliminating racism and racial inequality in higher education #WordsIntoAction.
Powerful introduction from Baroness @ValerieAmos stressing the need for strong leadership and real cultural change to address racial inequalities. Also, the need not only to gather data but to *act* on that data, not continually demand more and more evidence.
Next up, Dr Jason Arday of @DurhamSociology stressing the need to give BAME academics agency and autonomy to change the fundamental design of our institutions and academic systems, and the need for sustained and strategic investment to bring about lasting change.
Vice President (Higher Education) at @nusuk, @hillarygyebi rightly tells us that we should not expect Black students to be the sole authors of solutions to their own oppression, but that we can and must support Black-led initiatives both financially and emotionally.
Prof David Richardson, @UEA_VC, is chair of the UUK Advisory Group to tackle racial harassment in higher education. He highlights that this is not a moment for patience. Change to tackle racism in academia can and should happen quickly.
Really interesting Q&A. One theme which is coming through for me is the need - in discussing racism - for white people to learn to live with our own *and others* discomfort on these issues and stop protecting and centering white fragility. #WordsIntoActions
What does really good white allyship look like? (Asks Baroness @ValerieAmos). Dr Jason Arday calls for long term engagement, not just for a season; we need to call out racial aggressions & microaggressions & engage with giving up aspects of our privilege to give others space.
Do league tables disincentivise action on racism? @ValerieAmos stresses need for measurement & accountability so questions like tackling the BAME attainment gap should be addressed in league tables. Is there pushback against this cause current top Unis might drop down the table?
1 year from now what is the change you would most like to see?
@UEA_VC: Better reporting systems so we know what the starting point is.
@hillarygyebi: Recognition & reward work of student activists.
Jason Arday: More fiscal & human resource put towards tackling racial equality.
(The session was going very fast at the end there so I hope I got that last bit right. And indeed apologies for any other inaccuracies.)
Fantastic session, thanks to all the panel members and to @UUKevents for organising #WordsIntoActions
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