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Race

Black Students Society Dinner

In the past, Oxford University has been criticized for its lack of diversity; I had imagined that in Oxford, I might visibly represent and be reminded that I am among a minority of students because of my race and ethnic background. However, Green Templeton College was particularly a place that fostered diversity, equality and inclusivity through its various student-led organizations and initiatives.

Taiwo Olawole (Master of Public Policy, 2023)

Green Templeton College is proud of the extraordinary national and racial diversity of its students and fellows, and of the actions we’ve taken to support and celebrate this inclusive community.

In particular, following the establishment of the college’s Black Lives Taskforce in summer 2020, an Equality Action Agenda for Black Lives was developed by this taskforce in consultation with the whole community, with the support of Associate Fellow Dr Neo Tapela. This agenda continues to guide the college’s ongoing commitment to anti-racism and to nurturing the brilliance and ambition of BAME students and researchers.

In the five years since the taskforce was formed:

  • The Green Templeton Black Students’ Society was established and has taken an active role in making the college a lively and inclusive home for all students, with a social programme as well as the Maarifa library collection and a journal on the Black experience at Oxford.
  • The Society’s #DifferentEqual social media campaign raised awareness of racism. The college continues to fly the #DifferentEqual flag each year to mark Black History Month.
  • The role of Black Students’ Representative has been established in the constitution of the Green Templeton Graduate Common Room and successive Black Students’ Reps have run social, cultural and professional development events and had a voice in college governance.
  • The college funded two Black Academic Futures scholarships in 2024-25, and is committed to two AfOx graduate scholarships for 2025-26, with the long-term aim of providing as much support as possible for marginalized students to access an Oxford education.
  • The college has worked to increase the representation of BAME fellows, especially on its Governing Body, and has introduced robust processes to collect data about the race and ethnicity of its fellows, so this can be monitored.