Overview
From Black Lives Matter protests to the differential impacts of the covid-19 pandemic, 2020 drew further attention to the relationship, and long-standing tensions, between racial justice and data. In the UK higher education sector, persistent differences in attainment between Black and white students, the continued under-representation of Black staff at senior levels and critiques of oft-used and homogenising labels such as ‘BAME’ have also highlighted the centrality of data in addressing these issues.
Advance HE has responded to these challenges through a variety of initiatives including the foregrounding of quantitative and qualitative data in the Race Equality Charter and the analysis and presentation of staff and student in data annual statistical reports. However, more critical discussion about the use of data to address racial justice is required.
This one-day colloquium presents an opportunity for researchers and practitioners to exchange work that examines the intersection of race and data in higher education. Departing from the belief that more detailed or comprehensive data will move us closer to a more equitable experience for students and staff, the colloquium welcomes critical accounts of the role of data in advancing racial justice.
Call for contributions
We invite submissions for presentations that are 20 minutes in total (inclusive of any questions and answers) that explore case studies, research, ideas and good practice, including discipline-specific approaches. Possible topics include:
- Critical approaches to data aggregation (for example, use of the term ‘BAME’).
- Initiatives that demonstrate the use of data for action.
- Transnational approaches to the collection of race data.
- Embedding intersectionality in data practices.
- Innovative approaches to qualitative data.
- Engaging senior leaders in conversations about data.
- The role of emergent systems and technologies.
- Approaches to data presentation and visualisation.
- Harmful data practices.
- Big data and algorithms.
We particularly invite submissions that engage with or challenge the theme in new and exciting ways, are innovative, or present a novel approach to the topic.
Due to an issue with the online submission portal on 25 February, we have extended the submission deadline for this call until 12pm, 1 March.
Who should attend?
This event is for academic staff, independent researchers and professional services staff working in the fields of EDI, surveys, data and analytics. It is open to those at any career level and whose work cuts across research and practice.