Dr Andrea Jimenez

Dr Andrea Jimenez leads our Race Equality Charter submission’s Learning and Teaching working group and is a member of the Self Assessment Team.

The Learning and Teaching working group focuses on understanding course content/syllabus, teaching and assessment methods, and academic confidence.

The Self Assessment Team includes staff involved in the Race Equality Charter application and other key representatives from across the University, including academic, research and support staff and representatives from minority ethnic networks. It contributes to discussions around the representation, progression and success of minority ethnic staff and students, supports the implementation of the comprehensive action plan and contributes to high-level decision-making about the application

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What does race equality at the University mean to you?

'To me, race equality at the University means making Sheffield a place where people can thrive and reach their academic and personal goals without facing discrimination or other barriers because of their race or ethnicity. 

Having been a part of the University since 2018, initially as a postdoc and later as a Lecturer, I've witnessed a growing emphasis on discussions surrounding race and race equality over the past five years. Both staff and students are increasingly eager to see tangible changes aimed at promoting race equality.

However, it’s important to acknowledge the challenging backdrop of the broader political landscape, which seems more cautious in emphasising the importance of race equality. The 2021 Government report on the "Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities" which downplayed the existence of institutional racism in the UK, was disappointing for many of us. Despite this setback, it's heartening to see colleagues championing initiatives like decolonising the curriculum, which have remained steadfast and have underscored the critical importance of this work.

Achieving race equality is not an easy job, especially given the way higher education works in the UK. It requires constant work, policies, and a genuine commitment from management to diversity and inclusion. But it is also something that many of us want to contribute to.'

What have you learned from being involved in the Race Equality Charter bronze award application?

'My contribution to the Race Equality Charter bronze award focuses on working in our team to map initiatives across faculties with particular attention on teaching and learning, from course content to assessments, and how academics are supported to consider race equality in their teaching and course development. 

I am part of the Faculty of Social Sciences, but we were keen to ensure that we could identify key initiatives in all faculties. This was a lengthy process that required the support of many colleagues, who took time to answer our emails and share information with us. It also involved analysing the staff and student survey data, as well as supporting the design of the focus groups and subsequent analysis of anything related to teaching and learning. 

This was a very time-consuming experience, but also very rewarding. I have learned that although there is still a lot of work to do, there are quite a few people in the University, in faculties, human resources and professional services, that are interested in working towards race equality. I've been pleasantly surprised by people's commitment and motivation to do this work. 

There are also some initiatives that I believe deserve praise and recognition. The Centre for Equity and Inclusion, for example, which focuses on racial justice, very recently organised a workshop on decolonisation, with the participation of Professor Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. The Library has several activities that have been co-produced with students and which have an emphasis on race equality. These initiatives and many more across the University should be shared and celebrated. 

I've also learned that there are some big, long-term challenges to be addressed, and a lot of work that needs to be done. The Race Equality Charter bronze award is about providing an honest self-assessment showing where the University could do more in relation to race equality. I strongly believe that this work requires adequate time and should not solely rest upon individuals to carry it out. To me, meaningful engagement with these issues can be compromised when our workloads become too overwhelming and demanding - I think it is the responsibility of everyone in the University community.'

What do you hope to see as a result of the Race Equality Charter work?

'The first thing I am hoping is that we can share the results of our work with the wider community of the University, so we can all reflect together on what works and what still requires more work. I hope that the work of the Race Equality Charter self-assessment team will act as a reflective mirror for our University, allowing us to face our institutional challenges and that this opens the door to meaningful discussions about achieving race equality.

The second thing I am hoping for is genuine change as a result of this work, not just some tick-boxing exercises that will be forgotten in a few months. I believe that there is value in representation, and showcasing amazing students and staff from different ethnic backgrounds. But I think this needs to go in hand with systemic racism being addressed. I think that commitment from the leadership of this University is crucial for this, as it is this commitment that enables policy and institutional changes that we need.' 

Is there anything else you would like to share or reflect on? 

'I want to emphasise how important it is that staff and students of colour feel that we are a part of this community and belong at Sheffield. For Sheffield to be a University that is truly inclusive and supports all, we should all feel that we belong here, that we are all part of the University community and we all have the opportunity to thrive.'