WHAT WAS THE ASIAN STUDENT EXPERIENCE PANEL?
Last year the Students' Union supported Asian students in setting up an Asian Experience Panel. This panel allowed students of the Asian community to come together with the Students' Union and University departments to discuss the barriers that they face. 

Unfortunately due to COVID-19, panel members had to step down to prioritise their studies and home lives. This year we are looking to recruit more panel members in the hopes of challenging barriers, and better support our students institutionally.

For more information about the panel, please get in touch with the Inclusions and Communities Coordinator. 


OUR OBJECTIVES

• Build communities of students at Newman that have previously been "forgotten" by the SU
• Listen and more importantly HEAR the experience of our students to ensure we are fighting for you
• Build a sense of trust with all of our students to know that we are here for everyone
• Increase engagement outside of the "clique" that exists within the SU
• Work with students to eliminate the Black Attainment Gap that exists at Newman University
• Make University life fun!

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HOW WILL WE DO IT?

• Provide funding for projects and change
• Ensure staff time is dedicated towards the work of inclusion and diversity
• Support students to build their own communities
• Be the voice of ALL students tot he University, advocating and being allies

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SIGN UP FOR THE PANEL

During our Welcome Festival we will be holding a Black and Asian networking event, where students can pop along and tell us their experiences. Here you can also sign up to be part of the Asian Experience Panel. For information about this event, head to our freshers page.

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REPORTS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND FEEDBACK

Any reports written for the University Equality & Diversity Committee, Retention & Success Task Group or the Students' Union Executive Committee shall appear below.

RECCOMENDATIONS 

• Training i.e. widespread Bystander Intervention Training, Cultural Awareness Training & Unconscious Bias/ Discrimination.
• Campaigning during Ramadan – educating students and staff of prayer times and how to support students fasting during this month.
• Talking to Academic faculties to see how further assistance or support can be put in place to support students who are affected by Ramadan.
• External speaker events i.e. Alumni Network & Q&A panels to include diverse representatives who students can relate to.
• Researching other institutions and projects running similar experience panels.

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FEEDBACK SO FAR

• Recruited members for Asian Experience Panel & Black Experience Panel as students felt the term “BAME” was all encompassing and did not accurately reflect the difficulties or barriers to education that happened to specific groups within the umbrella term. Whilst the Students' Union were actioned to create a BAME Network, we recognise that students feel this way and have come to the conclusion that the two panels should stay separate. 

 

• It was highlighted that there is an uncomfortable relationship between students and staff of white and Muslim Asian ethnicities. Feedback suggests white students are frightened of saying the wrong thing and being accused of racism, while Muslim Asian students are frightened of Islamophobia being directed towards them. This means there is a lack of conversation taking place between these two groups. 

 

• It was highlighted that there is a lack of awareness of the cultural importance of religious practices within Newman University; students feel there is not enough space for the multifaith prayer room and that it is not clearly signposted, so many students are not aware of this existence. Furthermore, the Panel reported that students feel lecturers are unaware of prayer times and the effects of their religious principles during the month of Ramadan.