Advance HE’s Race Equality Charter (REC) provides a framework through which institutions work to identify and self-reflect on institutional and cultural barriers standing in the way of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students. Member institutions develop initiatives and solutions for action, and can apply for a Bronze or Silver REC award, depending on their level of progress.
Find out more
Whether you are ready to apply or would just like to find out more, complete the form below and we will email you an information pack with links to everything you need.
Guiding Principles of the Race Equality Charter
The Race Equality Charter is underpinned by five fundamental guiding principles.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Black, Asian and 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.
- All individuals have multiple identities, and the intersection of those different identities should be considered wherever possible.
By joining Advance HE’s Race Equality Charter, institutions are committing to following these principles in how they approach race equality and address their institutional culture. Once an institution has signed up to the REC by sending in their letter of commitment, they will need to submit their application within three years.
The Race Equality Charter covers:
- professional and support staff
- academic staff
- student progression and awarding
- diversity of the curriculum.
Applying for a Race Equality Charter award
Advance HE Membership provides access to the Race Equality Charter. Once your institution is a member you can then apply for an institutional Race Equality Charter award.
REC February 2021
If you are intending to submit an application in the upcoming February 2021 round, please let us know by completing our online form. You can also find out more about our future panel rounds by clicking the below button.
More about the Race Equality Charter
Apply for the Race Equality Charter award
Transform race equality in your institution.
Patrons
Bringing their academic expertise and backgrounds in race equality to support and champion the Race Equality Charter principles.
Good Practice Initiatives
REC good practice initiatives in higher education institutions.
Race Equality Charter resources and FAQs
To make it easier for you to find everything you need, we have moved our guidance, application form and additional resources to support your Race Equality Charter award submission into an easily downloadable information pack. Just fill in the form below and we will send you an email with everything you'll need.
We also have an extensive FAQs section which contains answers to commonly raised questions about all aspects of Athena Swan, from submitting your application to results.
