Labour hits out at ‘male, pale, stale’ universities

LABOUR has pledged to tackle inequality in higher education, branding universities “too male and pale”.

Less than a fifth of academic staff (16%) with known ethnicity at UK higher education providers in 2017/18 were black and minority ethnic (BME), according to recent figures.

The Higher Education Statistics Agency also said 114,745 staff at such organisations in that year were men, while 97,200 were women.

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said inequality is “endemic” in society, adding: “Sadly our universities are no different.”

Labour said it would commit to overhauling the regulator, the Office for Students, to review the state of inequality across the higher education sector and take steps to address it.

The party said it would also require institutions to detail their efforts to improve diversity and publish their progress every year, as well as promoting dedicated and targeted initiatives, like early career support and mentoring schemes. to help the progress of underrepresented groups.

Ms Rayner said: “Like much of our establishment, our universities are too male, pale and stale and do not represent the communities that they serve or modern Britain.

“The Tories have failed to take meaningful action to tackle inequality in our universities. Urgent action is needed to ensure that our universities are genuinely representative of the communities they serve, and allow everyone, student or staff, regardless of their background, to reach their full potential.

“Labour will address this inequality, giving the Office for Students (OFS) distinct powers to address inequality in our universities as part of a national education service that works for the many, not the few.”

Other research out earlier this week showed the majority of universities in England admit fewer than 5% of poor white students.