Racial bias still rears its head during recruitment

• A survey of higher education institutions reveals a
significant percentage of people claiming racial discrimination during the
recruitment process.

Of the five cases in higher education that have been taken
to an industrial tribunal in the past three years, three have been upheld. In
all three cases the complainant received compensation.

The survey, Ethnicity and Employment in Higher Education, is
the first major study to look at biasin the sector. It found that
three-quarters of institutions routinely monitor job applications by ethnicity.

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But only a quarter said they ever take any policy decisions
on the basis of those statistics.

Monitoring other aspects of employment is rare, with only 26
per cent of respondents tracking ethnicity and internal promotions. The figure
for grievance and disciplinary procedures is 11 per cent.