Research continues to identify ‘gaps’, or differential outcomes, between the attainment of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) students and their White peers in higher education in England. Such differences are evident in their degree outcomes, employment patterns, graduate remuneration and take-up of postgraduate study opportunities. The differential outcomes are persistent and have a long-term impact on the lives and career trajectories of BME graduates.

In light of the growing number of BME applicants for university places, the attainment gap problem is likely to become more acute over time. It is thus a pressing social justice issue in higher education. So: how can the possible existence of BME differential outcomes be identified at Programme and Modular levels, and what would the appropriate next steps look like?

This session will provide a forum for discussion and consideration of possible action that Module Leaders and Programme Directors may contemplate in order to:

Identify whether gaps in BME differential outcomes exist in their respective work contexts
Begin to explore what the possible contributing contextual factors to any identified BME attainment gap(s) might be.

About the speaker

Ratha Perumal is a PhD researcher in ECS. Her research topic is BME students’ differential outcomes in HE. She also works as a lecturer at the Cass School of Education and Communities, University of East London.

ECS Teaching Fora