Unica conference on racism and xenophobia

Stockholm University, 30-31 August 1999

UNICA the ‘Institutional Network of the Universities from the Capitals of Europe’ was founded in 1990. It is a non-governmental non-profit organisation whose members are legally constituted universities situated in European capitals. It has 28 member universities from 23 countries. Work done by UNICA includes supporting two working groups - Racism and Xenophobia and Public Health - and student exchange and staff mobility programmes.

In August 1999, a UNICA sponsored conference on racism and xenophobia was held at the University of Stockholm. Conference themes for consideration were the academic response to racism, the role of universities and the accessibility of universities for students from different backgrounds. The participants were nominated researchers from member universities who were working in the area of ethnicity and racism. The HEEU attended as one of a number of ‘observers’ who were non UNICA members but who had a contribution to make to the theme of the conference.

The conference had two outcomes. Firstly the collection of papers presented at the conference give a good overview of the ethnic composition of the participating countries and the worrying increase in discrimination and racism evident in many of these countries both within universities and in the wider societal context. Conference proceedings are due to be published later this year. The second, and very important, outcome of the conference was the development of a set of 12 recommendations which were presented to UNICA. These recommendations have been discussed at the UNICA General Assembly in Stockholm in November 1999. UNICA is now planning a policy statement on the subject to be circulated to UNICA member organisations.

Recommendations to UNICA from the participants of the Conference on Racism and xenophobia held at Stockholm University, 30-31 August 1999 are quoted below:-

1. MAINSTREAMING: The issues of racism and xenophobia must move to the centre-stage of universities and not be seen as something peripheral or marginal. This needs to be done at all levels, faculties and activities (teaching, research). Intercultural studies may play an important role in awareness raising. It is especially strategic in teacher training.
2. POLICIES AGAINST RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA: Universities are not immune to developments of increasing intolerance in society. There is every reason to expect that political trends in society are reflected within university life, possibly in more subtle and less brutal ways when it comes to xenophobia. Thus action needs to be taken against inequalities and expressions of racism and xenophobia within universities by the universities. A policy for equal opportunity should be made known to members of staff as well as to students. Questions of recruitment of staff need to be looked at in particular from this angle. Universities also need to develop their relations with the local communities, which in major cities most often are multicultural communities
3. OMBUDSMAN: An ombudsman for equal opportunities should be appointed at each university. At universities where such an ombudsman already exists for gender equality, the mandate should be broadened to include equal opportunities for ethnic, religious and cultural minorities, the disabled and other disadvantaged groups.
4. INVENTORIES: There is a lack of information about actions taken to counteract racism and xenophobia as well as a lack of information about on-going courses and activities at the UNICA universities which are relevant to the problem. Thus inventories need to be made. An inventory of intellectual frameworks in which anti-discriminatory policies are expressed in various countries and universities would also be helpful.
5. COURSES: A European Masters programme in Migration and Urban Policies, or courses in related fields should be recommended. Courses in intercultural education should be supported.
6. FAIR EVALUATION OF FOREIGN ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS: A frustrating experience for many foreign academics is that their qualifications from their native country are not recognised. Some general standards and recommendations are needed for UNICA member universities
7. LANGUAGE SUPPORT FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS: Foreign students, but also minority students in universities, where the language of instruction is a small language need special language courses. Problems of ethnic relations may for instance be regarded as language problems by teachers and discrimination by minority students.
8. EXCHANGE OF PROGRAMMES: Exchange of staff and students between universities, and combination of courses between universities, is a good preventive practice
9. NETWORKING AND GOOD PRACTICES: Good practices in the field of counteracting racism and xenophobia within the university should be disseminated through the UNICA network to all member universities. UNICA member universities could also collaborate with bodies such as the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia in Vienna, Simon Wiesenthal Centre, and others when it comes to collecting and disseminating information, research etc
10. RESEARCH: It is important to promote interdisciplinary research on inequalities, racism and xenophobia, and related research topics. Promoting ‘tolerance’ within the old established faculty organisations for thematically organised research on these topics is desirable.
11. FOLLOW-UP MEETINGS: An activated UNICA working group on racism and xenophobia should meet at least every second year at different member universities to follow-up developments in the struggle against racism and xenophobia. An important function of the meetings is to exchange information about current research through presentations of papers. Equally important, however, is to exchange information about good practices.
12. FUNDING OF THE WORKING GROUP ACTIVITIES: If UNICA considers that the network on racism and xenophobia should be continued, then more funding is needed in order to arrange a meeting every two years. A suggestion from the conference is that the members universities (in Western Europe) pay a higher fee to UNICA, the additional part earmarked for the work against racism and xenophobia, but administered from the UNICA office in Brussels. In return for this support the working group would produce a catalogue of best practices and a proposal for policy guidelines, inventories etc. on a regular basis.”

These recommendations can be seen at http://www.ulb.ac.be/unica/u4a.html