Leeds Beckett University’s Professor Vini Lander wins the BERA Equality in Education Award

She is the first ever recipient of this award, which launched earlier this year. Vini is a Professor of Race and Education at Leeds Beckett University, whose work actively focuses on promoting and improving racial equality in education settings.

The BERA (British Educational Research Association) Equality in Education award recognises an individual whose work has sought to address wider issues of inequality and discrimination in education. The winner’s work should have advanced issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in a local and/or national and/or international context and contributed towards creating sustainable structural change in systems and structures that perpetuate inequality and discrimination.

Vini has led research on the policy to promote fundamental British values in English schools and initial teacher education. Her work on the impact of the mandate to promote fundamental British values in schools extends her work in the field of race and education.

In her role as the Director of the Centre for Race, Education and Decoloniality, Professor Vini Lander oversees high-impact initiatives challenging everyday racism and structural race inequalities in education through research, evidence-based practice and the professional development of teachers nationally and internationally.

Professor Vini Lander said: “I am absolutely delighted to be the inaugural recipient of the BERA Equality in Education award. I would like to thank BERA for this award in recognition of my research and teaching to advance racial justice in education. 

“My educational career spans three decades and, throughout, I have sought to raise students' and colleagues' consciousness of race, racism and anti-racism.  This work continues to be as important in the present day as it was in the 1980s, when I first entered the classroom as a new teacher. I believe this is important and powerful work which I will continue to do alongside colleagues and students.

I'd also like to thank the colleagues who kindly nominated me for this award.  It is truly humbling to be recognised for ongoing efforts that I believe are absolutely vital and which have formed such a fundamental part of my professional and personal identity.”

Rachel C Boyle, Dean of the Carnegie School of Education, said: “This is a hugely well-deserved award for Professor Lander in recognition of her tireless dedication to developing anti-racism, inclusivity and advancing equality in education.”

“Her work over a number of decades has shaped the face of anti-racist practice within education. She continues to make a significant impact on both our academic community and the larger world of education, and we are so very proud to have her as part of our School team. Huge congratulations Prof Lander and sincere thanks to BERA for recognising such a valuable contribution.”

Professor Lander is the lead for the Universities Council for the Education of Teachers sub-group on Equalities. She is also a member of the Leeds Learning Alliance Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Professor Lander is a member of the British Educational Research Association (BERA) and is a member of the BERA College of Reviewers.

To find out more about the Carnegie School of Education and the Centre for Race, Education and Decoloniality at Leeds Beckett University, please visit our website.