LJMU is one of 24 universities with Race Equality Charter Bronze Award

A special thanks to LJMU’s Race Equality Self-Assessment Working Group pictured (L-R) Tina Purkis, Dr Atif Waraich, Moni Akinsanya, Greg Thompson, Elena Zaitseva, Paula McGuffie, Prof. Abir Hussain, Peter Dolan, Prof. Mike Riley, Lila Tamea, Dr Denise Lee, Dr Shaqil Chaudhry, Ester Ragonese, Dr Cynthia Akwei, Dr Natalie Holland, Elaine Smith Freeman, Philomene Uwamaliya, Dr Fyaz Ismail.

LJMU is one of only 24 institutions nationally to hold the Advance HE REC award and one of the few universities to achieve the award on the first attempt. 

The award recognises a higher education institution's commitment to act on eliminating racial inequalities and developing an inclusive culture that values all staff and students.

To successfully achieve the award, LJMU’s Race Equality Self-Assessment Working Group, with representatives drawn from all faculty and professional services areas, developed initiatives and solutions against Advance HE’s Race Equality Charter framework by identifying and self- reflecting on institutional and cultural barriers standing in the way of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students and developed specific, targeted actions to help LJMU advance race equality. 

Tina Purkis, Executive Director of HR with overall responsibility for the University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion said: “It has taken a lot of work to get this application over the line and was a real team effort of academics, professional services staff, and students.  

“This is only the beginning of the work we need to do, in order to deliver the action plan, and continue to improve the recruitment and retention of ethnically diverse staff and students, close the attainment gap and develop and retain our staff of colour.” 

LJMU Vice-Chancellor, Mark Power, said: “Securing REC Bronze status is an incredible achievement for us and the working group have done a tremendous job in assembling our self-assessment.   

“It is really important that we use this platform as the catalyst to bring about a change in hearts and minds so that higher education can lead the way to a fairer and more equitable society. 

“At LJMU, race equality is a serious business and we have committed ourselves to positive interactions to make sure that we can achieve our ambitions of living and working as a truly diverse and representative community.  This is just one part of our journey, but it is a significant step forward for the university.” 

LJMU’s Action Plan will focus on three main areas: 

• To reduce our attainment gap, and improve the recruitment, retention and progression of our Black students via our Access & Participation Plan (APP).  

• To increase the ethnic diversity of the workforce and support Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Professional and Academic staff member’s career progression. 

• To develop an inclusive culture where all staff and students have a sense of belonging.  

Dr Arun Verma, Head of REC at Advance HE, said, “Achieving REC Bronze is recognition of an institution’s robust foundation for eliminating racial inequalities, developing inclusive cultures and moving from commitment to sustainable and integrated bold and ambitious action. “Advance HE looks forward to supporting Liverpool John Moores University as it progresses its action plan to advance race equality.” 

Find out more about the Advance HE Race Equality Charter here.