I was drawn to one of the suggested readings, Race and the Neoliberal University: Lessons From the Public University, By John Holmwood 2018. This chapter covers the history of Colonialism and to Neoliberalism today, after the 2008 financial crisis and the implementation of Neoliberal policies through all aspects of life and institutions. From education being social right to the personal responsibility of individuals and their families. With huge fees higher education in the last couple of decades have impacted lower-income students, BAME students were impacted disproportionately.
“In this context, the call to ‘decolonise’ the university faces the paradox that the neoliberal university claims to be ‘race-blind’ – indeed, it is typically held to involve competitive processes that would dissolve any ascribed characteristics involving differential treatment.” Holmwood, j. (2018) p.2, . There was a huge push in the last two decades to recruit students from BAME backgrounds because of past advantages associated with the witness of institutions. but now the Neoliberal universities follow the market-based fees from recruiting overseas students who are from a wealthy background, which fills the ‘diversity’ gap, supported by the argument that this is consistent with a merit-based selection. While domestic students from BAME backgrounds are once again disadvantaged. I teach at two different intuitions and notice the difference, Glasgow School of Art, a Scottish social approach to education, Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) will pay for the first degree for domestic students but see fewer students of colour. Whereas London-based UAL does not have a free high education system, and a decrease in scholarships or funds.