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Abertay has been awarded a Race Equality Charter Mark – the first University in Scotland to achieve the recognition.
The Equality Challenge Unit (ECU), which works to support equality and diversity for staff and students in higher education institutions across the UK, presented the bronze award during an event at Abertay yesterday.
The Race Equality Charter Mark aims to improve the representation, progression and success of minority ethnic staff and students within higher education.
Abertay began the application process in January following a framework set out by ECU to identify and self-reflect on barriers standing in the way of minority ethnic staff and students.
Initiatives and solutions for action were then developed by the University’s Race Equality Charter Mark Self-Assessment Team (SAT), led by Director of Student Services James Nicholson.
David Bass, Scotland Programme Manager at the Equality Challenge Unit, met the team behind the award bid.
Presenting the award to Abertay Principal, Professor Nigel Seaton, Mr Bass said: “This is a landmark achievement; this is the only race charter mark award in Scotland and you should be rightly proud of yourselves and your institution.
“Abertay has taken a clear and positive leadership role in the sector for race equality. I would encourage you, individually and collectively, to embrace that role. Champion the voices of people from different ethnicities. Share what you’ve learned and what you’ve achieved; share where you’ve struggled. But keep pushing the conversation forward, and keep demanding progress.
“This award is the start of a journey, and an opportunity. I’m incredibly pleased to be presenting you with this award, but I’m even more excited about where we go from here.”
Prof Seaton said: “It is a great privilege to receive this award and I’m very proud of the work we have done here, in particular by the self-assessment team.
“It is a very ‘Abertay’ achievement – working together across the University. I am very pleased indeed that our work on equality and diversity has been recognised by the Race Equality Charter Mark.”