QUB will monitor progress of ethnic staff and students after complaints of ‘microaggressions’ and ‘colonial knowledge production’

QUB African-Caribbean Society wrote an open letter to the university at the start of the month, saying the death of George Floyd on May 25 was partly caused by “the white supremacist power structures”.

The society’s four-page letter goes on to say that efforts should be made to “decolonise the curriculum” in Northern Ireland.

It states the university is “complicit” in what it calls “an education system that is rooted in colonial knowledge production and the racist climate of the higher education system in the UK”.

It also complains of “microaggressions” against black students – adding that black students constitute “one of the most marginalised and vulnerable groups” on campus.

In response, QUB told the News Letter this week that its leaders had meet the society, and have made “commitments to act upon the concerns raised”.

It added: “This includes commitments to monitor and publish progression data for BAME students and staff, including attainment and to ensure appropriate diversity in the curriculum.

“While some of the actions are already under way, the University fully acknowledges that only through further engagement with its BAME staff and student community can it ensure that it makes the right interventions going forward.”

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