Universities must 'decolonise' the curriculum to better appeal to ethnic minority groups, an influential report has urged.

Universities UK, the membership group for vice chancellors, says black and Asian students are put off their studies by a lack of diversity on reading lists.

It is urging course tutors to consider including more ethnic minority writers and thinkers – such as African Americans Toni Morrison and Ralph Ellison and the Palestinian American academic Edward Said – to better reflect the 'experience' of a multicultural society.

Valerie Amos, the director of the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, co-led the report

But Valerie Amos, the director of the School of Oriental and African Studies in London – who co-led the report, denied the move meant 'elbowing off' traditional writers.

She said: 'I don't accept that. Universities are about critical engagement. They're about broadening perspectives.

'And this is about adding to that. It's not about taking things away.'

However, SOAS has produced a 'Decolonising SOAS Learning and Teaching Toolkit'.

Chris McGovern, of the Campaign for Real Education, said: 'By definition, if they expand the reading list they will dilute the content.

'It risks moving the focus away from traditional writers such as Shakespeare and Milton.'

Universities UK, the membership group for vice chancellors, says black and Asian students are put off their studies by a lack of diversity on reading lists.

It comes following student campaigns which complained about subjects such as English, history and philosophy being overwhelmingly 'white' because they focused on European thinkers.

This is the first time UUK has come out in favour of the campaign and is likely to mean more vice chancellors ordering curriculum reviews.

The report, which was also led by Amatey Doku, vice president for higher education at the National Union of Students, aimed to explore what universities can do to address the attainment gap between black students and their peers.

In 2017, only 57 per cent of black students got a first or 2:1, compared to 71 per cent of Asian and 81 per cent of white students.

Baroness Amos said: 'There are a range of things that universities need to be doing. And one aspect of that is around ensuring that you work to create more inclusive environments at universities.'

She said students may also feel put off by a lack of ethnic minority professors. UUK is asking vice-chancellors to pledge to work with students and use its recommendations.

The report says 'some curriculums do not reflect minority groups' which can lead to a 'poor sense of belonging'.