Conference “Racism and Higher Education”: Conference Report by uniAKTUELL

Racism is not a marginal phenomenon or an isolated deviation from social norms; rather, it is a deeply embedded structural principle that runs through social, political, and institutional systems. This insight formed the starting point of an academic conference at the University of Bern, which examined the relationship between racism and higher education, opening up not only analytical perspectives, but also raising concrete questions about responsibility, transformation, and institutional practice.

The fact that the event was fully booked within a very short time and ultimately attracted over 200 participants is more than a mere organizational detail. It signals a collective demand for change and a growing awareness. The high level of participation - particularly among women and genderqueer individuals directly and adversely affected - underscores that this is not an abstract debate, but one that deeply shapes many people’s lived realities.

UniAKTUELL covered the conference and reflects on the day in a new blog post. Link to the article: Thinking together about racism at universities