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Key take away: What can universities do to better support BAME students?

• Avoid deficit models, which are based on racial stereotypes, and seek to value community cultural capital of all students.

• Actively promote a sense of belonging amongst all students through inclusive curriculum content and design.

• Develop fair realistic assessment strategies that promote collaborative learning.

• Educate educate educate! You can’t rely on a single “BAME” student to be your representation / voice of the whole community. Even the term "BAME" incorporates the experiences of so many individuals — so much variation. Don’t fall into the trap of always grouping ethnic minorities together that you fail to see differences and/or ignore their lived experience(s).

• Be informed: there are a NUMBER of resources out there (i.e. books, podcasts, media, etc.).

• Be vocal: “if you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” - Desmond Tutu. Sign petitions. Donate to the cause.

• Go deeper than “performative activism” — more than just “ticking a box” or boosting your social capital.

• Ally — you stand with us vs. accomplice — you’re right beside us fighting for change.

• "Systemic change can only happen with continued advocacy": continue having these types of conversations.

• Create paid opportunities for students regardless of their settlement status (no free internships).

• Develop a needs based criteria instead of an eligibility based criteria for students’ financial aid.

• Allow students to freeze their studies for a period of time. Let students freeze their studies for longer periods so that they can take care of loved ones, or financial issues without having to worry about studies.

• Alleviate issues about participation and completion gap. Universities need to consider impact on the existing social inequalities.

• Establish clear channels of communication for streamlined and up to date information.

• Social networking and sense of belonging should not be taken lightly and more needs to be done to encourage BAME students to engage with the wider institution.

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Any further queries, please address to m.sajid@impaerial.ac.uk

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