UCL recognised at launch of new Race Equality Charter

Marking the launch of the first ever award scheme recognising the work that universities are undertaking to advance race equality, UCL and seven other universities were presented with their Race Equality Charter awards at a ceremony in London this week. The Race Equality Charter, developed and run by the Equality Challenge Unit, aims to improve the representation, progression and success of minority ethnic staff and students within higher education. The charter is supported by race equality experts, a number of prominent UK academics and by Jo Johnson MP, Universities and Science Minister, as a step towards the government's target to increase BME participation in higher education. Addressing barriers. Universities commit to the charter's guiding principles which include acknowledging the complexity and often covert nature of racial inequalities, and addressing institutional and cultural barriers faced by staff and students. The need for the charter is manifest. There is a huge disparity in the representation and success of Black and minority ethnic staff within UK universities.