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Race Equality Charter

Race Equality Charter

Our Race Equality Charter aims to help universities and research institutes in their work to improve the representation, progression and success of Black, Asian and minority ethnic people in higher education.

Advance HE’s Race Equality Charter helps institutions in their work to identify and address the barriers facing Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff and students, while also providing a framework for action and improvement. Institutions can apply for a bronze or silver award, depending on their progress.

Recent Race Equality Charter Bronze Awards

Two new Race Equality Charter Bronze Awards that recognise the start of the journey to advance race equality in higher education are conferred to the University of Dundee and Imperial College London in the latest round of results for the Race Equality Charter. Find out more here

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For more information about Race Equality Charter, complete the form below and we will email you relevant links with further information about the Race Equality Charter.  If you are already a Race Equality Charter member please find all the latest application guidance, forms and templates on Advance HE Connect in the Race Equality Charter Members Network group

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Race Equality Charter Update

Advance HE’s Equality Charters are member-led frameworks, shaped by and accountable to the member institutions which commit to the shared principles of equality, diversity and inclusion. We have centred members’ input and feedback throughout the process of updating the Race Equality Charter framework, including through engagement events and the invaluable contributions and oversight of the Race Equality Charter Governance Committee.

We have now shared an engagement pack collating the working drafts of the updated application materials which we created from this input. We are keen that the sector has further opportunities to contribute before these materials are finalised, so we are sharing these draft materials for your reflection and feedback. We will reflect on the feedback gathered from member institutions and will share finalised materials in Summer 2023. REC members can access the engagement pack on the on the Advance HE Connect REC resources space.

Share your thoughts on the next stage of REC's development
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Equality Charters and Freedom of Speech consultation

Advance HE is seeking expressions of interest to input into a consultation to understand how freedom of speech and academic freedom can be more explicitly embedded in the Athena Swan and Race Equality Charters.

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Applying for an 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.

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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. An institution that joins the Race Equality Charter from 2021/22 and signs up to the Race Equality Charter by sending in their letter of commitment, is required to submit their application within five years (existing members should refer to their application submission deadline stipulated on joining the Race Equality Charter).

    The Race Equality Governance Committee

    Race equality in higher education is boosted by a new governance committee set up to provide assurance, expert advice and guidance to the Advance HE Board for the development of the Race Equality Charter. Advance HE has appointed 12 members, including two co-Chairs, to the new Race Equality Charter Governance Committee with a wide range of equality, diversity and inclusion skills and lived experience.

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    More about the Race Equality Charter

    Apply for the Race Equality Charter award

    Transform race equality in your institution.
    Find out more

    Remote Developmental Review

    Receive feedback on a draft application.
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    Members

    Institutional members and the awards that they hold.
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    Patrons

    Supporting and championing the Race Equality Charter principles.
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    Panel members and observers

    Information on becoming a panel member or observer.
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    FAQs

    Frequently asked questions about the Race Equality Charter.
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    Good Practice Initiatives

    Race Equality Charter good practice initiatives in higher education institutions.
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    Race Equality Charter Update

    Progress on the update to the charter including the reviews.
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