THE UNIVERSITY of Edinburgh has issued guidance to its student body following a slew of anti-Scottish discrimination claims.
The Scottish Social Mobility Society, a student-formed anti-discrimination watchdog, has received over 200 reports of Scots being mocked over their backgrounds since its formation in 2020.
Both lecturers and non-Scottish students have been accused of ridiculing the Scottish accent and mimicking them.
In response to the outcry, Edinburgh University has now issued guidance on tackling "socioeconomic microaggressions".
The guidance states: “When we asked our widening participation students, we found they were often unprepared for the experience of being ‘othered’ because of their background, leading to a strong sense that they did not ‘belong’ at the university.”
It continues, “Don’t be a snob...When you meet new people, be curious about their interests and aspirations rather than their backgrounds.”
“Don’t assume that everyone’s life or family is like yours…Try to undo some of the unhelpful mythology about the relationship of wealth to intelligence or hard work.”
Scots made up 26% of the most recent intake of students, compared to 24% of students from the rest of the UK. Scottish students have reported feeling “isolated” and “hurt” as a result of experiencing anti-Scottish discrimination.
A spokesperson for Edinburgh University said: “We are incredibly proud of our diverse community and work hard to create an environment that eliminates discrimination and allows all of our students to have the best experience possible during their studies.
“Our dignity and respect policy sets out clear expectations of behaviour, including recognising when comments or behaviour may be harmful or upsetting to others and acting accordingly.
“The university is a recognised leader in its work to attract students from diverse social backgrounds but also in ensuring they thrive both here and in all their future endeavours.”
