Minority ethnic leadership programme
We are delighted to be going into partnership with the Scottish Government to deliver a Minority Ethnic Leadership and Development programme to help remove barriers to leadership in public life for minority ethnic communities.
In partnership with the University’s John Smith Centre, and backed by £470,000 of Government funding, the Minority Ethnic Emerging Leaders Academy will deliver a 9-month professional and personal development programme for 50 black and minority ethnic people from across Scotland.
"We listened hard to the call for action emanating from the Black Lives Matter movement."
Kezia Dugdale, Director of the John Smith Centre said: “We listened hard to the call for action emanating from the Black Lives Matter movement and reflected hard on what we could do that would make a meaningful difference.
"At every stage of this programme we’ll listen to, learn from and involve people with lived experience of the barriers that minority ethnic communities face, and combine it with our experience of what makes a real difference and delivers long term change.”
This new programme builds on our existing commitment to delivering reparative justice in acknowledgment of our historical links to slavery, and our desire to positively impact the future.
Supporting racial justice and equality
"We are determined to do everything we can to support racial justice and equality, within our institution and in wider society."
“As a University, we are determined to do everything we can to support racial justice and equality, within our institution and in wider society”, said Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor.
“That is why we have been at the forefront of efforts to enhance awareness and understanding of our country’s part in the historic slave trade – as well as the deeply regrettable ways in which our own institution benefited from the reprehensible practice.
“But understanding the horrific injustices of the past is not enough – we must also ensure we focus on how we can positively impact the future, and we are committed to doing exactly that.
“The new programme announced today will be a major step forward in this regard – and I look forward to working with the Scottish Government and the John Smith Centre to ensure it is a resounding success.”
First published September 2020.
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Historical slavery initiative
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the University played a leading role in the abolitionist movement to end slavery. However, at the same time, our predecessors accepted gifts and bequests from people whose wealth was derived, wholly or in part, from slavery.
To redress this past wrong, we commissioned our historians to research the University’s financial gain from slavery-related wealth. The report was published in September 2018 and included proposals for a significant programme of reparative justice.
This world-leading initiative has created a platform for sector change and international debate, resulting in a unique partnership with the University of the West Indies, new research into slavery within UK universities, and our commitment to hearing voices previously marginalised by history.
Working in partnership
In partnership with the University of the West Indies, we launched the Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research (GCCDR). We have committed to raising £20 million via the Centre for joint work on topics relevant to the Caribbean nations over the next 20 years.
The aims of the GCCDR are to:
- Facilitate research work
- Coordinate academic collaborations with other universities
- Host events and activities
- Stimulate public awareness about the history of slavery and its impact around the world.
Research into historical slavery and reparations extends into our wider partnership network, including current projects underway in collaboration with Radboud University.
"We’re delighted to have been shortlisted as Times Higher Education University of the Year, with the winner to be announced in November. This recognition of our partnership work relating to historical slavery and our programme of reparations will continue to offer opportunities for rich collaboration and wider engagement."
Rachel Sandison, Vice-Principal, External Relations
Work with us
If you would like to learn more about our collaboration with the University of the West Indies, or are interested in our experience of publishing our links with historical slavery, or you would like to collaborate in research on this subject, please contact us: international-partners@glasgow.ac.uk