University bosses have been accused of racism after an internal report blamed a higher drop-out rate of black students on the ‘risk’ posed by white lecturers.
A ‘risk register’ report published by Brunel University London warned that white staff may halt the progress of ethnic minority students because of institutional racism.
It also appeared to blame white lecturers for contributing to the gap in top degrees gained by students with Black or Asian heritage compared to those from white backgrounds.
Brunel university, named after British engineering giant Isambard Kingdom Brunel, specialises in science, engineering and technology, and is one of Britain’s most ethnically diverse campuses.
Three quarters of its 16,500 students are from ethnic minority backgrounds. The dropout rate for black students is 20 per cent, compared to about 13 per cent for white and Asian students. Two thirds of the university’s lecturers are white.
The risk report states: ‘There is a gap in continuation for black students. Underlaying (sic) causes are complex but it is likely that some of the causes are structural and, along with evidence suggesting that trust can be damaged by white educators, this may prevent students from coming forward for academic, personal and financial support.’
The Brunel report cited an American research paper from Miami University, which said that black students do not trust white educators to be genuinely anti-racist.
The controversial claim was criticised by anti-racism campaigners last night as ‘victimising’ black students and said the claim that white educators hold back the progress of ethnic minority students was racist in itself.
Ike Ijeh, from the Policy Exchange think tank, criticised the ‘false narrative of racial victimhood,’ adding: ‘It’s deeply depressing that even when ethnic minorities choose not to identify as oppressed, academic institutions are now prepared to insist that we do.’
He also pointed out that in secondary education, it was more often white working class boys who were the statistically the poorest performing group.
Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, director of the campaign group Don’t Divide Us, said: ‘It is hard to see how telling students and staff in a white majority country that white educators pose ‘a threat’ to black students is going to help restore any trust at all.’
She said that differences in dropout rates may arise from complex factors including family background, their prior education and whether students have to work or have family responsibilities.
Education expert Professor Alan Smithers from Buckingham University said: ‘If a particular group consistently does less well than the others, then it must be addressed and, if possible, ameliorated. But to think skin colour is the most likely explanation is strange, and to imply that the very presence of white lecturers could be ‘damaging’ and some kind of sign of institutional racism, is tantamount to being racist itself.’
Brunel University London did not respond to requests to comment.
Previously, a report from the student union at SOAS, part of the University of London, alleged that all white university tutors were ‘potentially racist’ and called for mandatory targets for the hiring of black and Asian staff. A student quoted in that report said: ‘Both of my tutors are white men. How can I have a rapport and feel comfortable talking to a 60-year-old white man?’
A spokesman for Brunel University said: ‘Our Access and Participation Plan seeks to identify potential barriers to student success without making an assumption about individuals. By fostering trust and understanding challenges, Brunel seeks to create an inclusive environment where all students have chance to thrive.’