Ethnicity, Education & Employment - Challenges Ahead

The 'three e?s? have come under the spotlight in a national research project conducted by academics at Edge Hill.

Alongside four other institutions ? the University of East London, Leeds Metropolitan University, the University of Bradford and Brunel University ? Edge Hill is currently working on an EU funded three-year comparative study of 'Ethnicity, Education and Employment?.

Despite a decade of government initiatives and strategies aimed at increasing widening participation in higher education and improving race equality in the workplace, recent Higher Education Statistics Agency research indicates that minority ethnic graduates still struggle to access the same employment opportunities as their white counterparts and perform less well at all stages of the selection process.

The aim of the research is to highlight ways to improve provision for minority ethnic students during the admissions, on-course and employment phases of their educational career.

Interim findings recently presented at the British Educational Research Association at the University of Glamorgan reveal that for the majority of Edge Hill students, regardless of ethnicity, their overall experience of higher education has been a positive one.

In terms of their understandings of employability, the majority of students were unfamiliar with the concept; however, work placements were seen to be extremely useful and valuable in improving employment prospects.

Minority ethnic students highlighted certain areas that they felt needed addressing, in particular ? provision of social activities, student representation, catering facilities and professional placements in multi-ethnic schools.

Edge Hill Research Projects Officer Katherine Straker said: "Although there are key areas that need to be improved, it is also important to acknowledge the success and achievement of some minority ethnic groups ? for instance, those enrolled within the Faculty of Education at Edge Hill perform as well as their white counterparts and are just as likely to have found employment six months after graduating."

The project is due to be completed in August 2006, following which a research report will be produced for the European Social Fund, along with journal publications and conference presentations.