Introduction to REC

Sheffield Hallam University signed up to the Race Equality Charter in January 2018 and has committed to following the five principles which guide the charter. These are:

1. Racial inequalities are a significant issue within higher education. Racial inequalities are not necessarily overt, isolated incidents. Racism is an everyday facet of UK society and racial inequalities manifest themselves in everyday situations, processes and behaviours.
2. UK higher education cannot reach its full potential unless it can benefit from the talents of the whole population and until individuals from all ethnic backgrounds can benefit equally from the opportunities it affords.
3. In developing solutions to racial inequalities, it is important that they are aimed at achieving long-term institutional culture change, avoiding a deficit model where solutions are aimed at changing the individual.
4. Minority ethnic staff and students are not a homogenous group. People from different ethnic backgrounds have different experiences of and outcomes from/within higher education, and that complexity needs to be considered in analysing data and developing actions.
5. All individuals have multiple identities, and the intersection of those different identities should be considered wherever possible.

Read more about the Race Equality Charter and Equality Challenge Unit.

Our work

As our work on the REC develops we will provide information about:

• The steering and operational groups (self-assessment team)
• Key aims and objectives of the SHU REC
• The frequency that the team meets, terms of reference and governance to oversee progress and to ensure our action plan aligns with the University's equality objectives and Transforming Lives strategy.
• Action plan and priorities identified to address race issues
• REC toolkit
• Networks
• Events
• Useful links

REC Surveys

The REC surveys are part of the university’s work to advance race equality, using the nationally recognised charter to promote the representation, progress and success of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students in Higher Education. Our staff and student surveys were run in October and November 2018, and aimed to explore the lived experiences of staff and students in relation to race equality and to identify emerging themes that can help inform additional research and possible actions.

Here is the summary report of the key findings (PDF, 1.4MB) which:

• provides insight into the areas where there are the biggest differences in outcomes and experiences for individuals from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups at Sheffield Hallam;
• outlines the actions the university is committed to putting place, in response to the survey findings, and as part of a broader race equality action plan that has been developed by the university's Race Equality Steering Group which also takes into account data held by the university about staff and student experiences and outcomes as well as findings from the university student listening rooms project and the staff engagement survey.