Race equity at ARU
ARU is committed to fostering an inclusive culture which promotes equity, values diversity and encourages allyship whilst maintaining a supportive learning, working and social environment for all students and staff.
ARU is committed to fostering an inclusive culture which promotes equity, values diversity and encourages allyship whilst maintaining a supportive learning, working and social environment for all students and staff.
As part of our Race Equality Strategy, we launched the Unlearn series in 2022 - a collection of initiatives designed to deepen racial literacy, better understand intersectionality, and challenge how racism manifests in society. This series is led by Diversity and Cultural Change and Anglia Learning and Teaching and delivered in collaboration with a range of other teams from across ARU.
ARU’s Race Equity E-Hub is a central space for key research on race and race equity. It enhances access to important publications and provides guidance on further anti-racism research through ARRO.
"We must all acknowledge that racism on our campuses and in our society, and that we have an absolute responsibility as a university community to identify and reject it in all its forms."
At ARU, we're committed to fostering an inclusive culture which promotes equity, values diversity and encourages allyship whilst maintaining a supportive work, learning and social environment for all students and staff.
We must acknowledge that racism exists in society and on our campuses. It’s our responsibility to identify and reject it in all its forms and we’re committed to working together to become an actively anti-racist institution.
Our Race Equality Strategy embraces an explicitly anti-racist approach and drives comprehensive cultural change at ARU, so that we can offer a university experience where all members of our community can expect to fulfil their potential, irrespective of race. It aims to achieve equality of experience and outcomes for our Black, Asian and minority ethnic community through a process of cultural change.
We want to empower our staff and students to confront injustices through open and honest discussion and encourage opportunities to educate ourselves on racial justice.
"Our Race Equality Strategy embraces an explicitly anti-racist approach and will drive comprehensive cultural change at ARU, so that we can offer a university experience where all members of our community can expect to fulfil their potential, irrespective of race."
Read our Race Equality Strategy
The Race Equality Action Plan outlines the key areas of activity and deliverables undertaken by ARU to achieve the aims of the Race Equality Strategy.
The Race Equality Advocates are a team of students employed by the University. They have been pivotal in shaping the Race Equality Strategy and played a key role in leading and delivering anti-racist activities and events at ARU. They have hosted termly events, collaborated with staff, alumni, and student networks on projects, and developed guidance and tools to support curriculum diversification across faculties.
Previous Advocates have also created a range of resources, including podcasts, blog posts, videos, and social media content. and events at ARU.
“Our Student Advocates continue to play a major role in our work on race equality. This year they have been raising awareness of anti-racism, whiteness, privilege and related themes, and developing tools for the University to diversify curricula.”
The Race Equality Charter (REC) works to improve the representation, progression and success of Black, Asian and minority ethnic students and staff within UK higher education.
The REC process encourages institutions to identify and reflect on structural and cultural barriers standing in the way of Black, Asian and minority ethnic students and staff. We became a member of the REC in 2018.
Member institutions develop initiatives and solutions for action and can apply for either a Bronze or Silver REC award, depending on their level of progress.
In May 2023 we were delighted to be recognised for our work to advance race equity with a Bronze Race Equality Charter award. We're one of 38 UK universities who have achieved Bronze status, while only one has achieved Silver.
ARU Vice Chancellor Prof Roderick Watkins outlines how ARU intends to address systemic racism and racial injustice.
