As we continue our work with all colleagues and students to bring about cultural change for the better at Westminster, we are pleased to announce that Santander’s 'Union Black: Britain’s Black cultures and steps to anti-racism' course is open again for enrolment.
About the course
Union Black aims to provide learners with an understanding of the origins and experience of Black British history and culture and a critical appreciation of the concepts of intersectionality and race as a social construct.
The course celebrates and gives insight into the personal, lived experience of Black British history and culture by looking beyond the commonplace narratives (for example, slavery and oppression) to positive and affirming stories of the role and impact of Black people - from Tudor times to today.
Union Black goes further than merely ticking a Black History Month box. Recent history makes it clear that good intentions are not enough. Change requires action.
“The course explores Black cultures in Britain and provides learners with an understanding of Black British history, dispelling myths to inform, challenge and contribute to the anti-racism agenda,” the Santander website explains.
By working through activities exploring labels and identities, non-racism vs. anti-racism, and identifying microaggressions, learners from all backgrounds will leave the course with new agency and the knowledge and tools to make positive change happen.
The initiative builds on the University’s Black Lives Matter commitment plan to ensure all of its community are studying and working in an actively anti-racist, inclusive and safe environment.
New for this year Santander has created a one-hour introductory version called ‘Introducing Union Black’. As the Santander website explains, this taster course is designed to "introduce learners to some of the concepts and learning experiences in the full Union Black course and help build confidence as a change agent for equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging."
Who can attend?
Union Black is open to all students and colleagues.
Who is running the programme?
Santander Universities UK’s mission is to support students from diverse backgrounds into university, work, and self-employment. It collaborates with a large network of university partners – including the University of Westminster.
To deliver the Union Black course, Santander Universities UK has partnered with The Open University and digital education platform FutureLearn to create an educational learning programme for colleagues and students from all UK Universities.
What does the course involve?
This course is intended to support colleagues and students to increase their understanding of Black British history, race, and racism, and how individuals can make a positive difference.
Learners will be able to complete the course in their own time on the FutureLearn platform and will receive a digital certificate upon completion.
The course will cover:
- Black British history and culture and the social construction of race
- Exploring the importance of anti-racist agenda and intersectionality
- Creating agency and becoming a catalyst for change
The course is designed to enable learners to:
- Appreciate and explain the outlines of Black British history
- Understand the concepts of intersectionality and social construction of race
- Critically investigate and question narratives of race, racism, non-racist and anti-racist
- Develop confidence and agency and the practical tools and skills to enable learners to choose to be anti-racist, challenge bias and create allyship.
How long is the course?
The course takes around 8 to 12 hours to complete.
Both ‘Introduction to Union Black’ and the full course are ‘always on’ (there are no cycles) and will be freely available to colleagues and students at all UK Universities until May 2024 via the Santander Scholarship Platform.
How to apply...
Please see the course registration guide for a step-by-step guide on accessing the programme.
First, you will need to apply via the Santander Scholarship Platform. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will receive an email from FutureLearn with the link to join the course within 24 hours*.
*Please note that if learners register on a Friday or over a weekend, they will receive the email from FutureLearn the following Monday.
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