Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Complimenting foreign student’s English is a microaggression: UK universities' new guideline

UK universities have issued a guideline for lecturers for complimenting foreign students’ English.

Compliment a foreign student’s English should be avoided by the lecturers as it is a potentially racist “microaggression”, said leading universities.


Imperial College London, has issued its staff with a list of phrases to avoid on campus. Saying “you speak English so well” or “you’re so articulate” to an ethnic minority student carries an assumption that white people are more intelligent.

Edinburgh University has told staff and students not to say “your English is really good” to anyone who is black, Asian British, Nigerian or American because this is a “microinsult".

Microaggressions are "subtle, invisible and insidious" remarks that create an “internal conflict” for minorities who experience them, the university says in diversity training manuals, likening the impact to "death by a thousand cuts".

Scholars are told it is “denigrating cultural values/communication styles” to tell an East Asian person to “speak up more” or to tell a black person “why do you have to be so loud? Just calm down”.

Campus security guards are told not to ask a black member of staff if they are lost because this carries “assumptions of criminality”.

According to Telegraph’s report, Imperial’s guide adds that uttering the phrase “I’m not racist. I have several black friends” is denying minorities’ experience of bias.

Staff should not say “I believe the most qualified person should get the job. We need excellence!” because this perpetuates the “myth of meritocracy” that BAME people are not disadvantaged.

This means a subtle snub, conveying insult to the recipient and denying bias.

The moves come after the Government unveiled new free speech laws in the Queen’s Speech to tackle rising intolerance on campuses.

In a crackdown on cancel culture, students and academics will be able to sue for compensation through the courts if they feel unfairly silenced.

Toby Young, general secretary of the Free Speech Union which has dealt with 100 cases of campus censorship in the past year, said to Telegraph that protections from “over-reaching diversitycrats” trying to police speech and thought are urgently needed.

“Universities have no business telling their academic staff what they can and can’t praise about their students’ work,” he said.

“Surely, the way to create a welcoming environment for BAME students at a university is to assure them they will be treated in exactly the same way as every other student? To hold BAME students to a lower standard than white students is incredibly patronising.”

“These misguided woke initiatives, which undermine academics’ autonomy and professional integrity, is exactly why we need more protection for free speech on campus.”

Imperial’s microaggressions guide and video, produced by the Faculty of Engineering, urges staff to think about how they make others feel in all interactions, and ensure they acknowledge race, age and gender.

A spokesman for Imperial College London said to Telegraph: “A video on the experiences of BAME colleagues does not ‘threaten free speech’, and we would reject any efforts to shut down these important discussions.”

More For You

11th UK Gatka Championship

All winners received medals and trophies

UK Parliament

11th UK Gatka Championship ends with Welsh debut and £1,000 support for Gatka Akharas

Highlights:

  • The 11th UK National Gatka Championship was hosted near Cardiff, marking the first time in Wales.
  • Winners included Roop Kaur (girls), Navjot Singh (boys), and Gurdeep Singh (men’s).
  • Gatka Federation UK awarded £1,000 to each participating Akhara to support martial arts promotion.
  • Chief guests included MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation.

Gatka Championship marks Welsh debut

The 11th UK National Gatka Championship concluded on a high note near Cardiff, Wales, showcasing the traditional Sikh martial art with flair. Seven leading Gatka Akharas participated, thrilling spectators with their lightning-fast strikes, precision moves and elegant techniques.

Inauguration by global leaders

The tournament was inaugurated by Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation (WGF) and the National Gatka Association of India (NGAI). He was joined by Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP, President of Gatka Federation UK, alongside other dignitaries including Jagbir Singh Jagga Chakar, President of Wales Kabaddi Club, and community leaders from the Haveli Hotel Pontyclun.

Keep ReadingShow less
Vantara

The site, located in Gujarat, houses hundreds of elephants, as well as 50 bears, 160 tigers, 200 lions, 250 leopards, and 900 crocodiles. (Photo: Instagram/Vantara)

India court probe clears Ambani family’s animal centre

AN INDIAN Supreme Court-ordered investigation has cleared a large private animal facility run by the son of Asia’s richest man, rejecting allegations of wildlife violations.

Vantara, described as the “world’s biggest wild animal rescue centre,” is operated by Anant Ambani, son of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer

Starmer, who has faced negative coverage since taking office in July 2024, defended the appointment process.

Reuters

Starmer: I would not have appointed Mandelson if aware of Epstein ties

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer said on Monday he would not have appointed Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington had he known the extent of his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

This was Starmer’s first public statement since dismissing Mandelson last week. The prime minister is facing questions over his judgement, including from Labour MPs, after initially standing by Mandelson before removing him from the post.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump

Trump said the suspect had been arrested earlier for 'terrible crimes,' including child sex abuse, grand theft auto and false imprisonment, but was released under the Biden administration because Cuba refused to take him back.

Getty Images

Trump says accused in Dallas motel beheading will face first-degree murder charge

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has described Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah, the Indian-origin motel manager killed in Dallas, as a “well-respected person” and said the accused will face a first-degree murder charge.

Nagamallaiah, 50, was killed last week at the Downtown Suites motel by co-worker Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, a 37-year-old undocumented Cuban immigrant with a criminal history.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer Mandelson

Starmer talks with Mandelson during a welcome reception at the ambassador's residence on February 26, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Getty

Starmer under pressure from party MPs after Mandelson dismissal

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer is facing questions within the Labour party after the sacking of US ambassador Peter Mandelson.

Mandelson was removed last week after Bloomberg published emails showing messages of support he sent following Jeffrey Epstein’s conviction for sex offences. The dismissal comes just ahead of US president Donald Trump’s state visit.

Keep ReadingShow less