'Same old story, just a different policy’: race and policy making in higher education in the UK

Kalwant Bhopal, Clare Pitkin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)
480 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Evidence suggests that Black and minority ethnic (BME) students and staff continue to be disadvantaged in higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UK. Policy making has been introduced to specifically address such inequalities. This article draws on critical policy analysis and 45 interviews to explore the impact of the recently introduced Race Equality Charter (REC) as a measure to address such inequalities. By using principles of Critical Race Theory (CRT), we argue that racism continues to play a key role in the experiences of BME groups in HEIs and policy making. Consequently, the enactment of policy making on race through the REC works to benefit HEIs by adhering to White normative practices and behaviours which contribute to a system which reinforces and perpetuates White privilege.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)530-547
Number of pages18
JournalRace Ethnicity and Education
Volume23
Issue number4
Early online date23 Jan 2020
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 23 Jan 2020

Keywords

  • CRT
  • Higher education
  • Performativity
  • Policy making
  • Race equality

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Demography
  • Cultural Studies
  • Education

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