Ethnic diversity in UK academia still far short of student representation figures

The latest Ethnic Representation Index report (ERI) has recently been released, shedding light on the mixed state of diversity in UK educational institutions.

Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) representation among academics rose  to 20.2% in the 2022-23 academic year, compared with 18.5% the year before, marking a significant improvement.

However, this diversity falls far short of BAME representation among the UK student body, situated at 33% at undergraduate level and 27% at postgraduate level.

Statistics for senior academic staff meanwhile expose a greater disparity, with only 15% BAME representation among professors.

Reports have always [indicated that] students from minority ethnic groups want to also see teachers and leaders that look like them

David Mba, Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham City University

David Mba, Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham City University and a key figure in producing the index, noted how this reflects a serious problem in academia.

“Reports have always [indicated that] students from minority ethnic groups want to also see teachers and leaders that look like them,” said Mba, one of two black vice-chancellors in the UK.

He stressed how, for underrepresented groups to feel comfortable, it is important that they are represented equally among staff.

While 100 universities have signed up to Advance Higher Education’s Race Equality Charter (REC), there are still questions over whether the REC is effective.

77% of the 52 universities which have received REC awards have seen improvements in BAME staff-to student ratio. However, 19% saw the gap widen.

With thousands of job cuts being announced across the higher education sector, Mba raised the concern that diversity efforts may be jeopardised, as they may be seen as unnecessary costs

Across all institutions, the average ethnicity pay gap between BAME and white staff rose from 5.6% to 6%.

Despite the implementation of the charter, there has been little progress towards improved representation and abolished pay gaps, with researchers suggesting the statistics indicate a deeper, systemic issue in university equity.

With thousands of job cuts announced across the higher education sector, Mba raised the concern that diversity efforts may be jeopardised, as they may be seen as unnecessary costs.

He called on university leaderships to be aware of the risks, and to ensure that their institutions are not moving “backwards”.