Ahead of Race Equality Week 2023 (6 – 12 February 2023), Queen’s Gender Initiative, who are leading Queen’s application to the Race Equality Charter (REC, Advance HE), and integrate efforts to promote racial equity for staff and students in our community, celebrated the completion of the pilot REC Reverse Mentoring Programme.

Taking action to address racial inequities involves listening to, understanding and learning from each other: what is the experience of someone working (or studying) at Queen’s who is from a minority ethnic group?  What barriers might a minority ethnic staff member (or student) come up against?  How can senior managers and leaders across Queen’s help to dismantle these barriers in their areas and influence change across the University?

Over the last year, colleagues identifying as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic acted as Mentors to Mentees from the university leadership team. 

Professor Karen McCloskey, Director of QGI, commented; “This programme provided senior colleagues with the opportunity to develop a 1:1 relationship with their Mentor where these important questions were explored in a confidential space.”

At the celebration event, Tanya Carey, a Mentor, stated; “The programme has allowed me to speak honestly with Margaret about institutionalised racism and ways we can challenge that in this university.”

Adding to her comments, Professor Margaret Topping commented; “The programme is a starting point.  It has been a reminder of the potential we have within this university.  My mentor has helped me unlearn some key thinking patterns, and I’m keen to see how phase two builds on this work.”

Dr Gulseli Baysu with Prof Karen McCloskey

Dr Vishal Sharma with Prof Karen McCloskey

Dr Amy Wong with Prof Karen McCloskey

Phase two of the programme will launch this spring.  If you are interested in taking part, or finding out more, please email qgi@qub.ac.uk.