Where we are in 2025

Imperial’s Race Equality Action Plan Imperial uses AdvanceHE’s Race Equality Charter (REC) as a framework to identify and reflect on institutional and cultural barriers that impact the experiences and progression of Minority Ethnic staff and students and to develop actions to dismantle them.

The REC is a key part of our commitment to EDI and links to Athena Swan, the Access and Participation Plan, and our Values and sits with other EDI commitments such as Stonewall’s UK Workplace Equality Index and the work of the Disability Action Committee.

Imperial achieved a REC Bronze Award in 2021 and is committed to becoming an anti-racist institution. We aim to be a place where students and staff of every ethnicity can feel a strong sense of belonging and ability to thrive.

As part of the REC, we created a five-year Action Plan (2021–26), developed by listening to our staff and students and endorsed by College leadership.

Beyond Ethnicity Career Conference 2025

Our achievements 2021-2024

  • An increase in staff from Minority Ethnic backgrounds from 23% in 2015 to 29% in 2024.
  • Minority Ethnic representation of external members on the College Council increased from 20% in 2019 to 42% in 2024.
  • An Inclusive Recruitment webpage was launched in 2022 to give advice and guidance to hiring managers.
  • An annual Beyond Ethnicity Career Conference for staff and students at Early Career stage has run since 2020.
  • Advancement have committed £5million to new Presidential Scholarships for home students from Black heritage backgrounds.
  • The International Student Support team provide specialist advice and a programme of events for students from overseas.
  • The Provost’s Visiting Professor Programme. Nine visiting professors have joined the College since 2022 from across the world including Tanzania, Kenya, India and Ghana
  • The Imperial History Project group, launched in 2020, has consulted with staff, students and alumni on the College’s history. Work has included renaming of the Central Library to the Abdus Salam Library in 2023.
  • The fourth Imperial As One Media Academy took place in March 2024. 102 people have now graduated from the programme.
  • Exhibitions to increase visibility of Minority Ethnic staff and students have included projects in partnership with the Royal College of Art and the Shifting the Lens photo series.
  • New anti-racist training modules have been rolled out to all staff and students including Introduction to race equity and EDI training as part of the Imperial Essentials suite of induction courses.
  • The Communications Division consulted widely to create Writing about Ethnicity guidance to support the College community in communicating sensitively about ethnicity.
  • The Black Students’ Recruitment Advisory Panel (BSRAP) was established in 2021 and is chaired by students.
  • Activate Mentoring Programme for students and early career staff of Black heritage, launched in November 2022.
  • Report + Support portal was launched in 2022 to provide a clear and supportive platform for staff to disclose incidents of bullying and harassment

In 2024/2025 we will:

  • Work with students and teaching staff to contextulise the curriculum, finding ways Improve levels of recruitment and support career progression for Minority Ethnic staff by refreshing training opportunities and recruitment processes.
  • Build on student facing activities to widen participation and contextualise the curriculum.
  • Raise awareness and visibility of both our staff and students from Minority Ethic backgrounds and our suite of REC related activities.