Decolonised Transformations: The 21st-Century University and Race
Establishing the Review
In January 2021, the Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Mathieson, signalled his intent to address the University of Edinburgh’s historic and contemporary links to race with the establishment of an independently chaired Review of Race and History Group.
In the published statement, Prof Mathieson expressed a need to address “issues of race, contemporary racism, Eurocentric and Afriphobic aspects of our curriculum and features of the University’s history”.
The University’s conceptualisation of decolonisation and the utilisation of decolonial theory is informed by decades of research in disciplines, such as Black Studies, that urge institutions to make systemic, evidence-based transformations. To repair our approach to the production of knowledge and create a culture and environment in which all can thrive, change is required at multiple levels. This does not just mean actively seeking to improve racial and ethnic diversity, but also widening our approaches to pedagogy and curricula, and reshaping administrative and disciplinary practices.
Decolonisation is not a euphemism for inclusion. Informed by decades of research on structural racism and anti-Blackness, it is understood that decolonisation requires reparatory efforts to address the multifaceted consequences of Eurocentric education, imperialism, and theories of white supremacy throughout the centuries.
Professor Peter Mathieson added: “Edinburgh’s work in this area will be sector-leading, will be conducted with integrity and will strengthen us as a global institution. It will be academically led: we have distinguished scholars on issues of race and racism, on Hume, the Enlightenment and so much more.”
This work is being conducted within the context of the UN International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-24) and in the wake of calls by student-led organisations, scholarly activists and grassroots community groups for higher education institutions to begin repairing past wrongs where possible.
Getting involved
The review will be formed of two major strands; a Research and Engagement Working Group (REWG) and a Policy Group which will work side-by-side. Inclusivity at every level is crucial if the programme is to succeed. People will be invited to participate and share their views with a commitment to this being a highly consultative process with students, staff, alumni, the local community and wider stakeholders.
A need for respectful debate grounded in shared principles and consultation across a range of views will run through all aspects of the review.
Previous work in this area has focused on a review of the curriculum, improving the representation of Black and Minority Ethnic students and staff, and promoting an anti-racist culture on campus. This will continue, but the programme here goes further by looking back into our history and repairing our past in order to find collective ways to forge our future.
Going forward
The REWG recognises that there is a crisis in the representation of visible Black, African and other minoritised ethnicities throughout the higher education sector in the UK. Anti-Black racism in particular has been found to negatively affect students and staff across UK higher education. National publications have shown that under-representation of Black students and staff due to racism is a significant problem throughout the sector. Black staff comprised of both UK and non-UK citizens amount to only 2% of academic staff in Britain, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. The lack of Black academic staff is compounded by the fact that Black students face significant obstacles toward pursuing a doctorate as only 1.2% of Black students are funded for PhDs throughout the country.
Building from the conclusions of previous reports commissioned by the University of Edinburgh’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, the executive and numerous university level stakeholders have agreed that a number of area need to be progressed further. The University remains absolutely committed to this important area of work and will continue to conduct as thorough and a wide-ranging set of reviews as possible.
Further information of the work of the Group and how you can get involved will be shared soon.
