Professor Kalwant Bhopal speaking on race and education at UCC

18 Oct 2018

To mark Black History Month, Profesor Kalwant Bhopal visits UCC to speak on Race, Ethnicity & Education.

The EDI Unit in collaboration with the Equality Committee, School of Applied Social Studies, School of Education and ISS21 are delighted to announce that Professor Kalwant Bhopal, School of Education, University of Birmingham will be visiting UCC to talk about race and social justice in education on Thursday October 18th and Friday October 19th.

Higher education institutions and their views on the Race Equality Charter

11 a.m. Thursday 18th October 2018: Boole Library Creative Zone

This presentation will explore recent research funded by the UCU (University and College Union) which explored higher education institutions and their views on the Race Equality Charter (REC). The REC is a second Charter designed by Advance HE, who also accredit higher education institutions with the Athena SWAN Charter. Very little is known about the impact of the REC, this project therefore, represents a unique perspective on existing and emergent work around the impact of equality policy making in HEIs. The presentation draws on interviews with individuals involved with the REC and those working in diversity and equality departments (with a specific focus on race) in HEIs. The study aims were: to identify aspects of good practice on race equality in institutions awarded the REC; to explore views of member and non-member institutions towards the REC and race equality and to contribute to UCU policy making on race equality and inclusion in HEIs. The talk will examine how universities can develop good practice for the inclusion of BME groups in higher education. A link to the study report is here: https://www.ucu.org.uk/media/9535/Investigating-higher-education-institutions-and-their-views-on-the-Race-Equality-Charter-Sept-18/pdf/REC_report_Sep18_fp.pdf

VIDEO of October 18th talk 

The second talk by Professor Bhopal was hosted by the School of Applied Social Studies, School of Education and ISS21 and was held at 11 a.m. on Friday 19th October 2018, venue TBC.

'What about us': Gypsies, Travellers, white racism and white privilege in schools.

This paper will examine the concept of ‘White racism’ in relation to the experiences of Gypsy and Traveller groups in England. It is based on ethnographic research conducted in two secondary schools. Interviews were carried out with pupils attending the secondary schools, their mothers and members of the Traveller Education Service. The research reveals that racism experienced by White Gypsy and Traveller groups is understood differently to that experienced by non-White minority ethnic groups. This is further related to how Gypsy and Traveller groups are perceived inside and outside schools, as ‘others’ and ‘outsiders’. The article considers discourses around racism and discrimination and how they might work to disadvantage Gypsy and Traveller groups in schools.

VIDEO of October 19th talk

For more on this story contact:

EDI Unit

ediunit@ucc.ie