Students study race and ethnicity in State of the Campus project

Year two undergraduates at the School of Social Sciences have completed State of the Campus 2017, an annual 5 day research project which this year focused on race and ethnicity in the University.

Replacing the first week of teaching for second year students each year, State of the Campus is an opportunity for students to examine a topic important to their community, conduct research first-hand, and to experience the ways in which research can have visible impact.

Beginning with an initial briefing, students conducted over 800 surveys as well as collecting interviews, documents and visual data from across the University.

Students examined a variety of topics including ethnic representations within the University’s website imagery; whether the ‘culture of university’ promotes inclusive behaviour; the diversity of the University’s student population; and the sense of ‘belonging’ at the University among different ethnic groups.

The culmination of the week’s hard work was presented through poster campaigns displayed in the School of Social Sciences and will be available for all to see in the Glamorgan Building over the coming weeks.

Dr Luke Sloan, academic lead for the project said: “State of the Campus provides students with an opportunity to practice the craft and skills of social research in the field whilst also making a substantial and valuable contribution to the University community. With over 300 students working collaboratively over a week, the results of their collective endeavour are incredible, with 27 A0 posters spread-out around the Glamorgan Building presenting their work.”