[Geo4All] Increasing the Number of Black Professors in UK Universities: A Call to Action

[Suchith Anand]

Dear colleagues,

I would like to share this information on this important report launch, kindly shared by Dr Jummy Okoya.

“Research report launch, Creating Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in Higher Education, at the House of Lords in London.

This 18-month research project illuminates Black academics' significant challenges in UK universities, including institutional gatekeeping, self-doubt, and psychological strain. 

Despite constituting 4.4% of the UK’s working-age population, Black individuals hold less than 1% of professorial roles—210 out of 24,430, according to 2022/23 HESA data. While representation rose slightly from 0.7% in 2020/21 to 0.9% in 2021/22, the overall progress remains insufficient.

This is not just another report; it is a call to action to collectively confront systemic inequities and envision a higher education system where Black academics can experience a seismic shift in institutional culture, fostering belonging and success.

The event highlighted exemplary initiatives advancing this agenda alongside our proposed BRIDGE framework: Building Recognisable Inclusiveness, Diverse Growth, and Equity. 

Additionally, the report calls on professional bodies and research organisations to embed equitable practices and take proactive steps toward lasting change.

This launch signals a decisive step in creating a more inclusive and equitable academic landscape. 

Lord Simon Woolley generously hosted the event, which was anchored by Dr Nero Ughwujabo and supported by Henley Business School and the University of East London

Professor Jonathan Passmore and Dr Jummy Okoya were joined in the evening by:
 
Vivienne Stern, CEO, Universities UK
Flora Hamilton – CEO, Chartered Association of Business Schools
Dr Heather Melville, OBE- Chancellor, University of York
Alison Johns FRSA - CEO, Advance HE
Professor Charles Egbu - Vice Chancellor, Leeds Trinity University
Peter Cheese – CEO, Chartered Institute of Personnel Development
Alice Chilver FCIPD MBA – CEO, Women’s Higher Education Network
Robert Van de Noort CBE DL - Vice Chancellor, University of Reading 
Dean Curtis - Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of East London
and other guests from across the business and HE sector.”


The link  to the full report is at  https://www.uel.ac.uk/sites/default/files/creating-equity-inclusion-and-belonging-in-higher-education.pdf

Please share this report with your networks.

I would like to thank everyone who worked on this important report. This report serves as a call to action not only in higher education but across all sectors, offering highly useful recommendations. These recommendations contain actionable steps to foster a culture of belonging and build a workforce that reflects the diversity of the UK.

Best wishes

Suchith

Professor Suchith Anand
Professor of Practice in Science Policy | Senior Adviser to Governments and International Organisations | Scientist | Global Citizen | Science Diplomacy |  SDG Volunteer and Advocate
https://www.exeter.ac.uk <https://www.exeter.ac.uk/>
https://ethicaldatainitiative.org <https://ethicaldatainitiative.org/> 
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