I had wanted to be an external examiner in the arts for many years…but there seemed very little information publicly visible on how to access such roles. Then, during the pandemic, a door appeared unlocked and I applied to an advertised External Examiner vacancy via a regional network email and with a rather firm push from the shoulder; arguing strongly that my race, experience of cultural difference and discrimination, my equality work - alongside education experience - might be insightful; and gained my first appointment. Now I run awareness sessions for prospective External Examiner BIPOC colleagues in my institution. But, this is not where the problem lies…
How do we change a system, like higher education, to be fully inclusive – less biased on race – in terms of student outcomes, staff representation and curricula diversification or representative knowledges? Simple, right? Put in place responsive structures, differentiated systems, make representative the people that run them, and provide incentives for making, or censure for not making, positive change.
