Use UKRI funding to spur action on race equality, urges UCU

Universities that address racial inequality should be rewarded by linking the Race Equality Charter to UK Research and Innovation funding, a union has recommended.

In a report on the charter published on 19 September, the University and College Union (UCU) said that senior academics must make a greater effort to implement race equality policies if the attainment gap between white students and those from black and minority ethnic backgrounds is to be closed.

By linking funding to equality outcomes, universities will be financially incentivised to do so, Kalwant Bhopal, co-author and deputy director of the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Research in Race and Education, told Research Fortnight. However, conversations with UKRI regarding this proposal have not yet taken place, she said.