Meet Sandhya
Sandhya Patel, Policy Officer for Student Equalities
Across the University there are countless projects underway to support the development of an inclusive culture and community for both staff and students. Connecting across teams working in EDI for staff and EDI for students will be key to achieving our strategic objectives for race equality. A new role for a Policy Officer focused on student equality was created to facilitate connections between EDU and the Academic Administration Department.
Sandy Patel reflects on what brought her to the role and what she has learned so far.
What is your role and what does it entail?
"I am a Policy Officer for Student Equalities and I work within both the Equality and Diversity Unit and Education Policy Support. It is the first shared role of its kind, connecting the EDU with key student-facing teams across the University. The role was initially established to support the delivery of the Race Equality Strategy, specifically student-focused actions committed to in the Race Equality Charter Action Plan. In 2024 the remit of the role was broadened to all student equalities in acknowledgement of the intersectional nature of equality, diversity and inclusion."
What drew you to this new role?
"I started my career at the University 15 years ago working in the Academic Administration team in the Mathematical Institute. One of the aspects of the role that I enjoyed the most was working directly with graduate students and learning how the department could improve their student experience.
I was fortunate to work in a department that understood the value of the ‘student voice’ and I was regularly given the opportunity to work with colleagues from the department to bring about change.
When I saw this role advertised I was immediately attracted to the opportunity to listen to the wider ‘student voice’. It gave me an opportunity to bring what I learned previously in my career to the table but also expand my understanding by learning from others with more experience and knowledge than me."
How does your work connect to the Race Equality Strategy?
"In 2023 I had the privilege of working with colleagues on the university’s Race Equality Charter application. I had the opportunity to liaise with student facing teams to learn about the remarkable work they are doing to increase the diversity of our student body, to ensure the teaching and wider student experience are inclusive and to support a culture of ‘belonging’. I heard about outreach and access programmes such as UNIQ, BeUNIQ, Oxplore, Opportunity Oxford, UNIQ+, Academic Futures and Close the Gap, to name just a few. I navigated the Centre for Teaching and Learning’s (CTL) IncudED Hub which serves to bring together in one place resources from across the university that support a more inclusive learning environment. I learned that the University seeks to hear and respond to students’ lived experiences, through programmes like the Diversity of Student Experience Research Project. The main realisation from this project was that across the collegiate University, there are numerous portfolios that continuously work toward student equality, diversity and inclusion."
What would you like to achieve in this role?
"I would like to learn more about what matters to students. I think it is integral when developing and implementing student-focused actions that there be a strong and reciprocal relationship between the student community and leadership across the intercollegiate university. I hope to support the development of existing mechanisms and implement new, positive, approaches to communications and engagement on EDI related issues."
We'd love to hear your story too
If you would like to share your story and help showcase to work that brings the Race Equality Strategy to life, please contact us at equality@admin.ox.ac.uk
