Open University Anti-Racism Statement

Our mission is to be open to people, places, methods and ideas and our commitment to social justice is at the very centre of everything that we stand for.

Following the global rise of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, we have challenged ourselves to raise awareness of and take a more active role in addressing racial inequality. We are working towards being an anti-racist institution. We are listening, learning and developing an institutional action plan which will focus on achieving and monitoring tangible and sustainable change.

To build on the strength of our existing work in this area, we have appointed a Dean for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion whose primary role is to help foster a shared collaborative approach to developing a culture where everyone at the University feels welcome, valued and able to reach their potential.

The Open University has a zero-tolerance approach to racial harassment and condemns all racist and discriminatory behaviour. We are committed to challenging and dismantling structural racism within our practices, policies, procedures and within the curriculum and spaces of learning where we teach.

We stand alongside all racially minoritised staff and students in pledging to act. We are committed to ensuring that we promote an environment which is anti-racist and allows all our staff and students to work and study without barriers to their individual opportunity, ambition or achievement.

Updated: 09/08/2021