Equality, diversity and inclusion

25 Nov 2020

A message from Professor Nancy Rothwell, Professor Nalin Thakkar and Kwame Kwarteng

Dear colleagues,

Racism and discrimination have no place in our University, and all our community of students and staff have a right to expect that they will be treated equally and fairly and can work and study in a safe, secure and fulfilling environment.

To take action we have, amongst other things, offered unconscious bias training to staff; appointed a University lead for race equality; encouraged students and staff to report discrimination and seek support through report and support as part of our ‘Speak up! Stand up!’ campaign; and run an Inclusive Advocacy Programme to ensure BAME staff reach their full potential and to increase diversity in leadership positions.

Despite all of this, we acknowledge that in many areas we have not succeeded fully or progressed as much as we should have. We can and will do more. Our Race matters report commits us to doing this. We will now build on this report and its recommendations to establish a strategic oversight group, led by Nancy Rothwell (President and Vice-Chancellor), Nalin Thakkar (Vice-President for Social Responsibility) and Kwame Kwarteng (General Secretary of The University of Manchester Students’ Union) and to include other senior figures, to ensure that racial inequality and harassment is dealt with at the highest level.

This group will initially have race as its focus, but will extend to cover all forms of discrimination to ensure our University is fully inclusive. This is completely aligned with the Universities UK report on racial harassment and discrimination which was published on Tuesday, 24 November 2020.

We want all students and staff to have a strong sense of belonging and inclusion at our University. We take seriously our role in removing systemic inequities and speaking up for those without a voice.

Nancy Rothwell (President and Vice-Chancellor)

Nalin Thakkar (Vice-President for Social Responsibility)

Kwame Kwarteng (General Secretary, University of Manchester Students’ Union)