Race for equality: reflections of a students’ union officer

Abstract

It has been eight years since the publication of the National Union of Students’ (NUS) Race for Equality, a report containing several sobering reflections on the BAME student experience in post-16 UK education. In 2018/19 many of the themes were revisited with the publication of a Universities UK and NUS report on the BAME attainment gap. In this viewpoint paper, a personal reflection is offered from the perspective of a students’ union officer, drawing attention to the need to be willing to engage with untapped talent, and on the role a students’ union can play in helping universities create more inclusive cultures and, consequently, more vibrant learning communities.