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Students of Colour Ambassadors

What is the Students of Colour Ambassadors Scheme?

At uea(su) we’re working with the university to tackle the degree awarding gap and other issues which affect students of colour. In the UK in 2019-20, there was a 9.9% 'gap’ between the likelihood of white students and students of colour getting a 1st or a 2:1 degree classification. Some factors that contribute to the degree awarding gap include:

  • Institutional culture
  • A lack of ethnic diversity among role models and staff
  • A lack of inclusive content, design and delivery
  • Not feeling a sense of belonging

We believe this is wrong and we're making it a priority to work with UEA to address it. It is vital that students of colour voices are not only heard but listened to. Our paid Students of Colour Ambassador scheme recruit students of colour to ensure the lived experiences are at the centre of efforts to close the degree awarding gap.

Getting involved

Interested in getting involved? We're recruiting! At uea(su) we’re working with UEA to tackle the degree awarding gap that continues to affect students from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. We are looking to recruit paid Students of Colour Ambassadors, to make sure the lived experience of students of colour is at the centre of efforts to close the degree awarding gap.

This role is exclusively for students at UEA, and will add invaluable experience to your CV. Key areas where you'll gain experience include:

  • Project management in an equality and equity sector
  • Championing the voices of students from minority ethnic groups
  • Collaborative working with the university to conduct research
  • Development, promotion and delivery of events
  • Attending regular uea(su), school and university level meetings

If this sounds like the kind of challenge you're looking for, we'd love to hear from you!

Find out more

Which schools are part of the Students of Colour Ambassadors scheme?

The scheme is part of nine schools across the UEA.

If you are a student registered to study in LDC, AMA, CMP, LAW, DEV, PHA, BIO, MED or HSC (Paramedic Science), then you can apply to become a Students of Colour Ambassador. We're hoping to secure further funding in the future to include more schools in the scheme.

What does a Students of Colour Ambassador do?

Working hours: Up to six hours per week during term time.

Students of Colour Ambassadors will work on projects which are decided by the academic school, however there is the opportunity to shape the projects that are being worked on. This role is focused on students of colour, so it is important that the Students of Colour Ambassadors work with students and staff. The Student of Colour Ambassador role is varied and will help you gain a range of transferable skills for future employment, some of the duties carried out are:

  • Undertaking research
  • Attending meetings
  • Public speaking
  • Creating and organising events
  • Creating publicity (including the use of social media)
  • And other tasks.

This role is supported by the Student Voice and Communities Coordinator (Students of Colour) on the Union side, who will provide training and general support. The School Lead on the University side will work with the Ambassador on projects and offer support.

Events

Previous Students of Colour Ambassadors Achievements

Although the projects Students of Colour Ambassadors work on are decided by the academic school, it is up to the Students of Colour Ambassadors to get creative with research and events. Here are some of the previous Students of Colour Ambassadors Achievements:

  • Creative writing portfolio changes: “Rewriting some of the tasks given to students in the application process to make everyone feel like their writing is represented and welcomed. This includes encouraging hybrid forms of writing and reference to native languages or English vernaculars.”
  • Spoken word/safe space events: “Lots of people gave amazing, beautiful work and it also helped create a wider AMA student of colour community.”
  • Creating an Accountability scheme: “Students of colour have a safe space to share their personal and academic struggles without any fear of being judged, helping students excel in law society competitions.”
  • Research: “Gathering information from students of colour to help the school gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of DEV students of colour, but also using this to create concrete change. We plan to put the feedback into action for the next academic year, introducing new projects.”
  • Inclusive lecture slides: “Displaying skin diseases on a variety of different skin tones.”
  • Bystander intervention training: ‘Training for students to allow them to act as an active bystanders who speak out on behalf of someone else in response to racist, homophobic, transphobic and sexist encounters within healthcare settings’
  • MED BAME Mentoring Scheme: ‘The scheme connects BAME senior medical students to junior medical students to help aid their transition through medical school - sharing their experiences and providing academic support and advice’.
  • International MED student buddy scheme: ‘Helps new international students settle into life at UEA and the UK by providing them with peer support from senior international medical students’
  • Training for MED personal advisors: ‘Integrated a new diversity workshop into the senior academic advisor’s training to help raise awareness for BAME mental health issues and education about targeted resources and signposting for BAME students’.

Blogs

Every project, every proposal to Union Council, every victory - here's where you'll find them. Your Students of Colour Ambassadors are committed to making your voices heard and championing the causes that mean the most to you.

For regular updates, keep an eye on the Students of Colour Ambassador Blogs.

Find out more

Social Media and Contacts

We can also be found on social media - give us a follow and keep updated with all the latest news!

Got any questions? Private message us, email us or pop into the uea(su) offices and we'll be happy to help.

Instagram: @socas.ueasu

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