Online Forum: Racism & Islamophobia on Campus 2025
Universities are often seen as spaces for intellectual growth and open discourse, yet they are not immune to the realities of racism and Islamophobia. In recognition of UN Day to Combat Islamophobia the EYST All Wales Black Asian Minority Ethnic engagement programme gathered students, educators and professionals to address the ongoing issues of racism and Islamophobia in further and higher education. The online forum brought together 76 attendees to share experiences, challenges and share good practice.
Key issues and themes discussed
Overt and Covert Discrimination: Speakers discussed how Islamophobia often presents itself overtly, with Muslim students and staff facing verbal abuse, frequently targeted in an intersectional and gendered manner. Robiu Salisu from Advance HE noted, ‘often Muslim women who are wearing the hijab will present themselves as Muslims, and often that leads to that overt element of racism’
Reports indicate that 1 in 3 Muslim students have experienced Islamophobic abuse on campus. Covert forms of discrimination were also identified, such as the disproportionate securitisation of Muslim students and staff under the Prevent agenda, impacting their freedom of expression. Salisu explained, ‘We see with the Prevent agenda... that Muslim students and staff felt that they were overly securitised, they were often being looked at more so than their colleagues, even if they are working in a field that was relevant around extremism’
Lack of Reporting and Support: Many incidents of racial harassment go unreported, due to the absence of clear reporting systems and a lack of confidence that complaints will be taken seriously. Abyd Quinn-Aziz from Cardiff University highlighted this, saying, ‘in my experience, there’s no single system for reporting racism, and certainly nothing specifically for Islamophobia’. The EHRC reports that two-thirds of students who experienced racial harassment didn't report it.
Selima EYST stressed the point made in Welsh Government’s Anti-racist Wales Action Plan, ‘It's not about fixing the minority ethnic people, it's about fixing these systems. The systems are broken, and sometimes they damage minority ethnic people leaving them in a worse state’. Confusing or ineffective reporting systems and fear of retaliation discourage students from reporting. Institutions must ensure clear, accessible mechanisms with transparent processes to build trust.
Leadership and Accountability: Effective leadership is crucial to drive and sustain change. Abyd Quinn-Aziz spoke to this issue, stating, ‘It’s great to have intentions, but the experience on the ground is very different, and it needs leadership to actually drive it forward’. Leaders at all levels must be committed to embedding anti-racist practices into the institution's fabric.
Representation: Jerena Davies-Kumar, Education Workforce Council Wales, discussed efforts to diversify the education workforce. In Wales, ‘the percentage of the workforce from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic backgrounds is 4.9%’ and ‘the percentage of teachers from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds was 3.8%’. She shared that the Education Workforce council have a dedicated programme of work aimed at engaging Minority Ethnic people into the workforce across Wales.
Actions for change
Acknowledgement. Robiu Salisu emphasised, ‘First, you have to acknowledge there’s a problem. Universities and colleges need to acknowledge racism and Islamophobia’ this is crucial to achieve meaningful change.
• Strengthen anti-racism policies with clear enforcement
• Increase diversity in the workforce to reflect the student body.
• Provide education/training on anti-racism, bias, inclusivity, and cultural competency.
• Establish accessible/effective reporting systems.
• Offer culturally competent mental health resources.
Looking Ahead
The forum emphasised the need for tangible actions to create safe, valued, and empowering environments for all students, prioritising inclusivity and accountability for lasting change.
Access the full discussion: Racism and Islamophobia on Campus 2025
Useful links:
An anti-racist Wales | GOV.WALES
Racial harassment in higher education: our inquiry | EHRC
Race Equality Charter Members | Advance HE
Tackling Islamophobia & anti-Muslim hatred practical guidance for universities