University accused of awarding marks based on skin colour

Published on Friday 23 October 2009 22:10

AN INDIAN student has accused one of Scotland's leading universities of racial discrimination, it was revealed yesterday.

The female student, who was studying for a post-graduate degree in medical molecular genetics at Aberdeen University, has alleged that undergraduates at the university are given marks "based on the colour of their skin" and that university staff have made racial remarks about Asian students.

The 35-year-old student, from Bangalore, India, lodged a complaint of racial discrimination with the university authorities after she failed her exams.

She also lodged a formal complaint with the Indian High Commission in London.

She originally made the complaints in the summer but details of her allegations were only made public yesterday after being published in a Bangalore newspaper.

In her complaint to the Indian High Commissioner the student alleges: "They (Indian students] are deliberately given the lowest marks in the class, depending on how the rest of the Caucasians and the programme supervisors' favourite students in the class perform academically.

"If a Caucasian student does badly, he/she is given an Indian student's marks.

"Indian students are deliberately given wrong advice concerning academics to prevent them from progressing academically. They are either kept in the dark or given inaccurate information on issues related to academics."

And her complaint states: "I am facing racial and equality discrimination in this university. Many Indian students currently studying here are also affected but they are afraid to protest, as they fear vengeful action from the university.

"Many have returned home without being able to complete the degree they enrolled for and have lost their life savings spent on their education here due to this university's equality and racist hidden practices."

A spokeswoman for Aberdeen University said: "The university can confirm it has received a complaint of racial dis-crimination from a student. This is currently under investigation in line with the university's policy on student complaints. We hope to conclude this matter promptly."

She added that the university was "committed to the equal treatment of all persons regardless of their race, ethnic or national origin or colour".

The student who has made the allegations is being supported in pursuing her claim by the Indian Association of North-East Scotland, the main support network for Asians in the area.

Vamsi Pelluri, the association's secretary, accused the university of "dragging its heels" in dealing with the allegations.

He said: "We are not making any judgment on the allegations. But these allegations were made on 1 June and it is now the end of October."

But a university spokeswoman said: "The complaint was submitted by the student in July. Due to the serious nature of the complaint a thorough investigation has been undertaken."