Professor becomes patron of race equality charter

Professor becomes patron of race equality charter

University of Wolverhampton Professor of Community and Public Health Nursing, Laura Serrant, has been appointed a Patron of the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) Race Equality Charter.

Working in the Faculty of Education, Health & Wellbeing, Laura has, in the past, been awarded Queen’s Nurse status by the Queen’s Nursing Institute and in 2014 was recognised by the Health Service Journal in three separate categories including the BME Pioneers Category which celebrates the contribution that people from black and minority ethnic communities make to the NHS at all levels.

The ECU’s Race Equality Charter (REC) provides a framework through which institutions work to identify and self-reflect on institutional and cultural barriers standing in the way of minority ethnic staff and students. Member institutions develop initiatives and solutions for action, and can apply for a Bronze or Silver REC award, depending on their level of progress.

Drawn from across the higher education sector, five patrons bring academic expertise and backgrounds in race equality to support and champion the Race Equality Charter principles.

Claire Herbert, Race Equality Charter Manager at ECU, said: “The patrons will help ECU to make sure race equality remains on the Higher Education agenda, to inspire and encourage institutions to commit to improving the representation, progression and success of minority ethnic staff and students within higher education.”

Laura said: "Race equality continues to be a challenging but essential indicator of a mature, forward thinking society. It is only right that Higher Education as one of the key sectors responsible for producing our future leaders and citizens is addressing race equality. I am proud to be appointed as a patron of the new Race Equality Charter and will endeavour to do all I can to ensure its success."

For background information on the patrons, check out: http://www.ecu.ac.uk/blogs/race-equality-start-the-conversation-to-end-the-frustration/.

ENDS

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Date Issued:  22^nd January 2016