Study of racism in the FE sector: attitudes and behaviours
The Department for Employment and Learning has published, as part of its Research Agenda 2004-2007, a research report entitled ‘Study of Racism in the FE Sector: Attitudes and Behaviours’.
The research included a literature review and key stakeholder consultations to identify and explore issues in relation to the nature of racism in the Further Education (FE) sector, the current policy responses within FE Colleges and the wider context with regard to race and ethnicity in Northern Ireland.
This research is important to the Department in its statutory obligations to Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Order 1998 and in line with its commitment to widen access to further education within Northern Ireland. It helps develop understanding of attitudes towards race and ethnicity issues.
The researchers concluded that in general there was limited evidence that racist attitudes existed amongst FE staff, with slightly higher levels among indigenous FE students. They also concluded that overall, ethnic minority students do feel safer in College than outside of it and racism issues are not a major barrier to participation by ethnic minority students.
The researchers developed an anti-racism checklist and identified examples of best practice. Colleges will need to seek ways to apply these to promote new ways of thinking about racism along with more innovative and inclusive ways of dealing with it.
The findings of this report and, in particular, the application of the anti-racism checklist will be taken forward by the FE sector in conjunction with the Association of Northern Ireland Colleges (ANIC) through its on-going Cultural Diversity/Good Relations policy and practice.
The researchers have recommended that moving forward a bespoke approach to tackling racism in FE is required due to differences in community structures, in College catchment areas and that a number of Colleges are already engaged in initiatives identified as best practice.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The report is available to download from the Departments website at http://www.delni.gov.uk/racism-ni-fe-study from 9 November 2007.
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