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Special Interest Group

Race, Ethnicity and Education

The ‘Race’, Ethnicity and Education Special Interest Group is concerned with these and other related issues. The terms ‘race’ and ‘ethnicity’ are acknowledged as problematic but are also commonly used and have recognition as relating to issues of colour and cultural racism with which the group will be concerned. There is a lot of support for this SIG as people feel that ‘race’ and ethnicity issues tend to get subsumed within more general papers concerning policy and pedagogy. We also intend to link up with the journal ‘Race’, Ethnicity and Education as well as BERJ. This will further raise the profile of the SIG and also BERA and it will provide further outlets for researchers’ academic papers.

An argument against a SIG on ‘race’ and ethnicity may be that it could lead to marginalisation. However, the counter position is that of permeation which is at least if not more problematic. We have seen in BERA and also in the school system that permeation can often lead to dissipation and render these issues invisible. Moreover, the American Education Research Association, although a much larger organisation of course, has successfully employed discrete Special Interest Groups on ‘race’ and ethnicity issues.

Research interests 

  • Critical Race Theory 
  • Intersectionality with feminism, able-ism, social class etc.
  • Black and Asian student teachers oppressions
  • Minority ethnic people’s lived experiences of barriers, hurdles and successes
  • Racism and anti-racism in formal and informal educational institutions
  • Culturally responsive pedagogy
  • Black Men in higher education
  • Black Leaders and Managers in Higher Education

Twitter: @BERA_ree

SIG Convenors

Profile picture of Diane Warner
Diane Warner, Dr

Senior Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University

Dr Diane Warner is a senior lecturer in teacher education at Manchester Metropolitan University. She started in education as a primary school teacher and moved into initial teacher education in 2004 working on campuses in the North and South of...

Profile picture of Saima Salehjee
Saima Salehjee, Dr

Senior Lecturer in Education with STEM specialism at University of Glasgow

Dr Saima Salehjee is a Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Glasgow. She is responsible for teaching and research work, particularly on Science Education. Saima has received grants to continue her research with underprivileged...

Profile picture of Christine Callender
Christine Callender, Dr

Associate Professor in Education at IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society

Dr Christine Callender is an Associate Professor in Education at UCL Institute of Education, London. She has worked in schools, colleges and in the higher education sector for over 20 years and has undertaken consultancies nationally and...

Content associated with this SIG

Learning about Race Equality from Norway

25 Mar 2024 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

This event will have a clear international and anti-racist perspective.  The speaker is Kristin Gregers Erikson, an Associate Professor at the University of South-Eastern Norway.   Her...

Upcoming event

SIG Forum Meeting – Race, Ethnicity and Education

6 Dec 2023 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Join the Race, Ethnicity and Education SIG meeting to network with colleagues, learn about the activities of the SIG and plans for 2023 and onwards. This meeting will be hosted online, where you...

Upcoming event

Winter 2023/24

Research Intelligence issue 157: Research & practice on migration & education across the four nations of the UK

Research Intelligence23 Nov 2023