David Ruebain, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Culture, Equality & Inclusion)
UEG reflections on Union Black antiracism training
Last week, Windrush Day was marked as it is each year on 22 June, highlighting a key point in UK history and a formative moment for our culture. But we must always consider the bigger picture of Black British history and structural racism in the UK, something that was explored within the Union Black pilot course that many of us at the University took part in.
Antiracism and Union Black pilot
Thank you to everyone who has completed and who has registered for the Santander Union Black online course over the past few months. Alongside other initiatives, taking part is key to achieving our Antiracist Sussex aims. It was great to hear that four of our students have won a bursary £500 from Santander as a result of taking part. If you have already registered for the training, you still have time to complete it.
In our Antiracist pledge, we made a commitment to being antiracist and to undertake related personal and professional development. All of the University Executive Group (UEG) members have now completed the Union Black training and have shared positive feedback about how useful they found it.
In addition, all Heads of School and Professional Services Directors have taken part in a further Advance HE antiracist training.
UEG members considered the Union Black course and content to have been very valuable, particularly in relation to structural racism in higher education, and discussed implications for UEG as a group and members as individual leaders. In discussion, members reported a better understanding of antiracism, positive action they could take to handle and respond to incidences of racism, and how to more clearly identify manifestations of structural racism in the sector.
It was agreed that UEG should continue to focus on antiracism at the University and one idea was to explore the concept of ‘belonging’ as a theme under which a range of related activity could be brought together, acknowledging competing priorities for time and resources.
We’re also progressing our Race Equality Action Plan: as we work toward achieving the Advance HE Race Equality Charter Mark we will continue to review antiracism commitments in our schools and professional services.
Update on Pride
June is Pride month, and the University of Sussex is a proud partner of Brighton and Hove Pride, the UK’s biggest Pride celebration. It’s a celebration of inclusivity, with our community coming together to fundraise, have fun and campaign for LGBTQ+ equality.
Staff and students are invited to take part in the Pride Community Parade on Saturday 6 August with a walking party. If you take part, you’ll also receive a free weekend ticket to enjoy Fabuloso in the Park at Brighton and Hove Pride on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 August.
You can read the full story about taking part and how to register. The closing date to register your interest is Friday 1 July.
Working with UCU to progress equality
As part of the recent joint agreement between UEG and UCU I am leading on the work on the equalities workstream. We have established a working group involving UCU to discuss Equality Analysis (previously known as Equalities Impact Assessments), workload commitment, remuneration for equalities work, our action plans for elimination of pay gaps, training, anti-racism commitments and mental health support. We will also discuss these issues with the other unions.
Gypsy, Roma and Travellers in Education
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month is underway and earlier this week on 28 June we held a Gypsy, Roma and Travellers in Education event.
I was delighted to give a welcome talk at the event, where the University’s Widening Participation team delivered a programme of insights, training, and discussion entitled ‘GRT in Education’. This had input from students, academics and practitioners, local authorities, charities and community representatives.
Children from Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller backgrounds have the poorest GCSE outcomes of any measured ethnic or cultural group and are 11 times less likely to go to university than their peers. We at Sussex are committed to tackling these barriers to education GRT learners face and to raise awareness of some of the engrained prejudices that we can collectively help to challenge.
To mark the month, we are flying the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller flag this week until Friday 1 July.
With good wishes,
David
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Culture, Equality and Inclusion)