The Experiences of Black Academics and Mentoring Programs in Universities: U.K. and U.S. Comparisons

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 32
  In Roundtable Session: Student Experiences in Higher Education

Abstract

This paper will explore the effects of mentoring on the career progression of Black academics in universities in the UK and USA. It draws on 37 interviews with Black academics in the UK and 20 interviews with Black academics in the USA. The findings suggest that not all universities have formal mentoring programmes in place and experiences of mentoring programmes vary in the UK and USA. By drawing on Critical Race Theory (CRT), the paper argues that whilst universities present a strong rhetoric of equality and diversity, this is not necessarily followed by specific policies and programmes which ensure a serious commitment to an equalities agenda.

Author

• Kalwant Bhopal, University of Birmingham