51Âþ»­

Hi everyone,

51Âþ»­ takes enormous pride in its diverse community. Your backgrounds, cultures and faiths make our university a more vibrant place to learn and grow. I want you to know that we are committed to creating an environment where all individuals feel valued and supported, regardless of their background or identity.

We have made significant progress towards making 51Âþ»­ a more inclusive and welcoming place for everyone. You may have read in my email a couple of weeks ago that 51Âþ»­ is the first university to gain a silver award in the Race Equality Charter (REC). 

The REC was created to address inequality in higher education and to help Black, Asian and ethnically minoritised students and staff in universities succeed. Currently, 99 institutions are members of the REC, and about a third of them have bronze awards.

For 51Âþ»­ to become the first university to achieve silver-award recognition is an important step towards true equality at our institution. Promoting innovation and social change are essential, guiding themes in our ‘Empowering University’ strategy.

Our curriculum has been under regular review to make sure we accurately represent cultural and geographical diversity, and that our teaching material is enriched by being more inclusive and decolonised.

There’s a vast range of cultures and interests represented in the student societies. Go to the to see what’s on offer and get involved. If you think there’s something missing from the line-up, you can start a group of your own!

During each year, 51Âþ»­ celebrates LGBTQ+ History Month, Women’s History Month and Black History Month by organising lively programmes of events.

April saw the 30th anniversary of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence, who was aged just 18 at the time. The Stephen Lawrence Research Centre, based at 51Âþ»­, works to widen the understanding of social justice at all levels of society, with a particular interest in engaging younger people.

If you haven’t yet been to the exhibition of artwork by young people inspired by Stephen Lawrence’s story, you’ve got until Wednesday 3 May to see it in The Gallery in the Vijay Patel Building.

At our university, we recognise that diversity is not just about numbers but the different perspectives and experiences that you bring. By collaborating and sharing knowledge, we can create an environment that benefits us as a whole.

We also want to make sure that you feel safe and supported at 51Âþ»­, regardless of race, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation or whether you have a physical or learning difference.

That’s why we have dedicated student support across a variety of areas.

These include the No Space for Hate initiative we run with DSU. This was set up to challenge inappropriate behaviours and provide practical assistance following any reported incidents of hate and harassment.

Support for those experiencing sexual violence, domestic abuse or sexual harassment is available through the Mandala Project. And mental health and disability advice is provided by the Student Gateway.

I am immensely grateful to everyone whose combined efforts helped 51Âþ»­ achieve its silver Race Equality Charter award. At the same time, it reminds us that we must all continue to strive for full equality, both at 51Âþ»­ and universities across the country.

Embracing change, expanding your horizons and sharing knowledge are the keys to learning and success in this rapidly evolving world. We have a vision for a more inclusive future and I am delighted to have you with us for the journey. 

Best wishes,

Katie Normington, Vice-Chancellor, 51Âþ»­