Tackling racism at GCU
We have taken a proactive, whole institution approach to prioritise the tackling of racism and racial inequalities. After a strategic discussion at our People Committee, a sub-committee of University Court, in March 2019, a Tackling Racism Group was established to develop recommendations for the University.
The Committee and our Executive Board approved a set of 9 recommendations in October 2020 for the University to implement. These were informed by external evidence and internal expertise and the lived experience of our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic student community as well as academic, research and professional support staff. The full set of recommendations are:
- Ensure that each service and function across GCU makes a commitment to tackle racism and racial inequalities
- Target recruitment of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people
- Commit to taking active steps, including supporting staff, to decolonise the curriculum
- Address student attainment gap data by focusing on the sources of structural exclusion rather than the students themselves
- Commit to providing compulsory race and racism-focused training and development on a range of topics for all staff and leaders
- Develop and communicate appropriate, rigorous, and safe mechanisms for the University to receive reports of racism in confidence; and develop and communicate appropriate mechanisms to enable the University’s services and functions to receive feedback
- Support Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic businesses and social enterprises by ensuring that procurement procedures are inclusive and by providing opportunities for partnership working
- Ensure Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic student and staff data are part of regular, mainstream University reports
- Take active steps to communicate and make visible these recommendations and more broadly GCU’s commitment to tackle racism and racial inequalities
There are clear lines of accountability as each recommendation is assigned to an Executive lead and supporting action plans for each recommendation are currently being developed.
This internal activity has been complemented by our Call It Racism campaign in February 2022.
Tackling Racism
Students give their views on tackling racism at Glasgow Caledonian.
Tackling Racism at GCU Group
The University has signed Advance HE’s declaration on anti-racism: "Racism exists on our campuses and in our society. Call it what it is and reject it in all its forms. We stand united against racism. Call it racism, challenge racist behaviour, change racist structures"
This group meets monthly to ensure that the University upholds this commitment. The purpose of the meetings are:
- To support, direct and advise Executive Board on how the University implements the tackling racism recommendations
- To monitor implementation by receiving progress reports from the named Executive Board lead for each recommendation via the relevant group or committee
- To evaluate progress and highlight any concerns about progress and make appropriate recommendations
- To report progress on implementation to the People Committee
Advance HE Tackling racism on campus project
Glasgow Caledonian has been an active member of Advance HE’s Tackling racism on campus project.
The project is funded by the Scottish Funding Council in response to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s report into racial harassment on university campuses. It is led by an expert group of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion practitioners, academics, tertiary education staff and students.
The project has been developing evidence-based resources to be used by Scottish universities and colleges as they respond the findings highlighted in the EHRC inquiry report.
