Student antiracist activism and institutionalised equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in UK universities

Jones, H. and Sirriyeh, A. (2025) Student antiracist activism and institutionalised equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in UK universities. Critical Social Policy: 0261018325. ISSN 0261-0183

Abstract

This article presents research into trajectories of racially minoritised students to and through antiracist and decolonial activism in Higher Education. For some student antiracist activists, neoliberal equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) agendas provide entry points to antiracist activism which enable them to build knowledge, networks and platforms and make institutional changes, often exceeding these institutional roles to become more independent and radical. This is despite and in tension with the documented limitations of EDI and Student Voice measures of which the activists were well aware. We draw on narrative biographical interviews with racially minoritised undergraduate and postgraduate antiracist activists from seven universities across England, taking a broad understanding of activism to include everyday as well as more spectacular acts of resistance.