Anti-racist Sussex: our pledge
Find out what we are doing at Sussex towards race equality.
The ¹ú²úÄÚÉä recognises that racial inequalities have historically shaped higher education and wider society. As an internationally focused university, we are committed to becoming a place in which every student and member of staff feels they are in the best place to realise their goals, where they can develop, be themselves, and do their best work, and where we fully embrace diversity of background, identity, belief, thought, discipline, and method.
Racism continues to shape the experiences, opportunities, and outcomes of both students and staff, including disparities in degree outcomes and average pay. At ¹ú²úÄÚÉä, we recognise our responsibility to challenge the systems and structures that create inequality, disadvantage and under-representation, and to make meaningful change visible in both institutional culture and the everyday experiences of our community.
We recognise that racism exists in UK society and can appear in individual behaviour and institutional systems. We respond to individual experiences through clear reporting routes such as , alongside our Dignity, Respect and Inclusion policy, to help ensure people feel safe, heard, and supported. We also address structural issues by looking at wider patterns across the University, including ethnicity awarding gaps, pay gaps, and representation at different grades. We work through vehicles such as student and staff networks and the Race Equality Steering Group [88KB PDF download] to help us understand these issues and shape our response.
At ¹ú²úÄÚÉä, we look at race equality both collectively and through specific workstreams. Collectively, we examine patterns across the University through institutional data and insight. Alongside this, we focus on the experiences of groups through initiatives such as Black@Sussex and the Gypsies, Travellers, Roma, Showmen and Boaters pledge. This allows us to understand patterns across the University while recognising that different communities have distinct experiences.
What does it mean to be ‘anti-racist’?
At ¹ú²úÄÚÉä, being anti-racist means taking action to identify and change the systems, behaviours, and practices that create inequality. It is not only about holding anti-racist attitudes, but about making practical changes that improve experiences and outcomes for our community. Open dialogue, academic freedom, and freedom of speech are central to this work. Our Open Listening approach reflects this commitment, creating space for challenge, reflection, and learning across difference, and connecting with the University’s wider commitment to academic freedom and freedom of speech and respectful dialogue.
Guided by our Advance HE Race Equality Charter Bronze award and Race Equality Charter action plan [340KB PDF], our anti-racist work focuses on the following priority areas:
- improving student experience and reducing ethnicity awarding gaps
- addressing ethnicity pay gaps and progression barriers
- tackling racial harassment and discrimination
- improving representation and career progression in academic and professional services role
- building racial literacy and confidence across staff and students
- supporting inclusive curriculum and research practice.
We recognise that these challenges are complex and require sustained, long-term action.
Governance and leadership
Race equality and anti-racist work at Sussex is supported through clear leadership and governance structures. Strategic oversight sits with the University Executive Group and the Pro Vice Chancellor for Culture, Equality and Inclusion. Delivery is guided through the University’s EDI Board and coordinated by the Assistant Director for Culture, Equality and Inclusion and the EDI Unit. Across faculties, Associate Deans for Culture, Equality and Inclusion help embed this work locally. Staff networks, race equality steering groups, our Access and Participation plan and thematic workstreams support engagement, insight, and action across the University.
Training and development
We provide anti-racism learning and development opportunities for staff and students to build racial literacy and support inclusive practice across the University. This includes Higher Education-focused Introduction to Race Equity training developed with Advance HE. This is part of our range of equality, diversity and inclusion e-learning courses delivered through LearnUpon, alongside education-focused development such as the PGCertHE.
Inclusive education and curriculum
Work with Educational Enhancement, the Library, and initiatives such as Black at Sussex supports inclusive curriculum design and the development of resources including the Black Studies collection.
Support and reporting
provides a clear route for staff and students to report incidents and access support.
Partnership
We work in partnership with our , staff networks, and external organisations to support race equality across the University. This includes initiatives such as the , a student-led collaboration focused on improving the experiences and outcomes of racially minoritised students, and partnerships with organisations such as the . Projects like Black at Sussex also bring together students and staff to shape change through community-led work, alongside initiatives that support inclusive and decolonising approaches to curriculum design and educational practice.