“Advance HE welcomes today’s report from UCU investigating the views of universities towards the Race Equality Charter (REC). Addressing racial inequalities is complex and emotive and when launching REC in 2016, Advance HE (formerly Equality Challenge Unit) designed the REC process to be a framework to address racial inequalities strategically and holistically. We’re delighted that this research confirms the REC process as a valuable tool in navigating this area of inequality.
“REC award holders have fed back to us that REC has enabled them to start conversations about race and racism within their institution, which is a significant step forward, though not a solution in itself. The Charter is not a static award and requires long-term commitment, enabling and supporting universities to continuously progress their journey towards race equality.
“At only three years old, REC is an evolving and a collaborative project between Advance HE and the sector as a whole, and we welcome any evidence and feedback on how we can move forward and improve the process. When launching REC we committed to reviewing the charter within three years, and we look forward to beginning this review in 2019. We would like to thank UCU and the researchers involved in providing this evidence, which we will consider in full during the review, along with additional research and sector consultation.” Dr Ruth E Gilligan, Associate Director - Equality Charters, Advance HE
Find out more about Advance HE's Race Equality Charter here.