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Ethnic Minority Staff Bear Brunt of Inequality Work
31 Oct
Summary
- BAME staff and students are disproportionately burdened with addressing the attainment gap.
- White graduates are 13% more likely to achieve higher degrees than BAME graduates.
- New centre will research effective interventions for student inequalities.
Ethnic minority staff and students are reportedly bearing a disproportionate burden in efforts to close the 13% university attainment gap. These individuals often find themselves expected to lead initiatives addressing race and inequality, leading to significant psychological pressure and workload challenges.
Data from 2017-18 revealed that white graduates were 13% more likely to obtain first-class or upper second-class degrees compared to their BAME counterparts. This disparity, even when accounting for prior qualifications, highlights a persistent issue within higher education.
A new Centre for Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education has been established to address these inequalities. This initiative will focus on collecting data and researching effective interventions for various minority groups, aiming to provide an evidence base for institutional change.
Experts emphasize that addressing the attainment gap should be a collective responsibility, not solely falling on BAME communities. Recommendations include formalizing and recognizing the work done by minority staff and students, potentially through paid roles or formal placements, rather than expecting unpaid contributions.
