Adjudicator rules in favour of students left in academic limbo after African history course was axed

The Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) for Higher Education has found a complaint made by students against the university was partly justified, and that the university’s claim that it did not guarantee that a specific member of staff would teach students, was unreasonable. 

Thirteen students are taking legal action against the university after it terminated a groundbreaking programme in the History of Africa and the African Diaspora while they were part way through their studies. 

The students were studying on the Masters by Research (MRes), History of Africa and the African Diaspora course or conducting research for a PhD. The course was unique in Europe and attracted students from all over the world, as well as many from the UK. 

It was led by Professor Hakim Adi, one of the UK’s pre-eminent historians and the first African-British historian to become a Professor of History in the UK. Professor Adi was shortlisted for the Wolfson History prize in 2023. 

The course was suspended without warning in July 2023 with the university stating that the programme was no longer economically viable. Professor Adi was made redundant shortly afterwards. The move came as a complete shock to the students and staff, as well as fellow historians, teachers, activists, and advocates of the importance of African history.  

After initially bringing a civil claim alleging discrimination and breach of contract against the university - which has since been stayed - lawyers at law firm Leigh Day representing the group made a further complaint to the OIA for Higher Education. 

The OIA refused to address all the grounds of the complaint - citing that the Black Equity Organisation (BEO) had brought a Judicial Review of the university’s actions in 2024, and so a number of grounds had been dealt with. 

Despite this, the OIA for Higher Education has now ruled that 12 of the students had a legitimate expectation to be taught by an expert they signed up to the course to be taught by.  

The OIA found that the university advertised its programme for the MRes and doctoral research under the History of Africa and the African Diaspora programme based on the fact that the students would be able to “learn directly” from Professor Hakim Adi who the University described as the “only professor of the History of Africa and the African Diaspora in Britain”. The university has also been ordered to pay the group compensation. 

The students are represented by Jacqueline McKenzie, human rights partner at Leigh Day. 

Jacqueline said: 

“The OIA’s ruling is a significant victory for the students who were left in academic limbo after their course was unjustly terminated. The decision acknowledges the fundamental principle that students should receive the education they were promised, taught by the experts they signed up to learn from.  

“While this ruling is an important step forward, we remain deeply concerned about the circumstances that led to the closure of this groundbreaking course and the impact on those affected. We will continue to pursue justice for our clients as we await the next steps in both the OIA process and their legal claim.” 

The students are crowdfunding for their legal claim.