BLOG: Reflecting on Our Journey: How Queen’s Achieved the REC Bronze Award
"For me personally, contributing to this achievement alongside dedicated colleagues has been a highlight of my citizenship work at Queen’s."
A blog by Dr Bee-Yen Toh, Co-Chair of iRise – Queen's University Belfast's Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network – and Senior Lecturer (Education) in the School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Queen’s University Belfast has recently secured the Race Equality Charter (REC) Bronze Award from Advance HE, a milestone that marks the culmination of years of focused effort. Our journey began formally in 2020 when Queen's became a REC signatory, followed by the launch of the Racial Equity Champions Network in 2021. This early groundwork was critical in embedding race equality discussions across Schools and Directorates. It ensured that our Bronze application was built on a foundation of genuine institutional commitment which is aligned with both Strategy 2030 and our EDI goals.
The catalyst for this successful application was the establishment of the REC Self Assessment Team (REC SAT) in April 2025. Led by Professor Peter Robertson, this group undertook a rigorous and data-driven review of our policies, recruitment and progression data, and the lived experiences of our community.
A critical component of this process was ensuring that the voice of staff networks was not just heard but central to the decision-making. In my capacity as iRise Co-Chair and a member of the SAT, I worked to translate the feedback from our racially minoritised staff community into actionable insights. Through the analysis of our first racial equity survey and monthly strategic discussions, we co-designed a robust five-year Action Plan that addresses structural barriers and promotes meaningful inclusion.
Achieving the Advance HE REC Bronze Award is more than an external accolade for Queen’s, it represents a shift in how we hold ourselves accountable. It signals to our internal and external communities that Queen’s is committed to evidence-based change rather than performative gestures.
For me personally, contributing to this achievement alongside dedicated colleagues has been a highlight of my citizenship work at Queen’s. Now, as the SAT evolves into the REC Implementation Team, I look forward to continuing my leadership role in driving this Action Plan forward and ensuring that this Bronze Award marks the beginning, and not the end of our progress in racial equity.
