My name is Damilola Adejuwon, a black-British.

I obtained double Masters Degree in Haematology with Distinction and Public Health from University of West England, Bristol. I was offered an admission for PhD by University of Sunderland with effect from 1^st February, 2017 as an international student then. I started the four years PhD Program in Department of Pharmacy, Health and Well being in 2017  and expected to finish in January 2021.

Unfortunately, the Supervisors assigned to me by the University of Sunderland conspired, misled, mismanaged and prevented me from carrying out the objectives of my offered/approved PhD Research Program simply because of my race (a black Lady).  The unbelievable harrowing experience I had with my Supervisors regarding my PhD Program has impaired my mental health.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to provide detailed information regarding my case but would provide a  brief summary of major formal complaints I lodged with University of Sunderland and OIA which have not been properly addressed to include as follows:

1. My PhD Program offered was mischievously changed.

2. Supervision was poor and second supervisor was unprofessional.

3. Director of Studies contradicted herself and misled the investigation conducted by the University.

4. Serious errors noticed by the Assessor in supervision were ignored and never addressed.

5. Evidence shows satisfactory progress by me but I was later accused by the Supervisors of shortcomings to cover up.

6. Experiments given to another student (a white postdoctorate student) which sabotaged the PhD.

7. My bench fees for reagents was used by the Director of Studies for other purposes without any explanation.

8. Lack of necessary training and refusal to permit me to use  real time PCR machine which was available to other students and not ‘broken down’ as alleged by the university which failed to provide any evidence of this.

9. Inflation of bench fees and failure to account for costs of consumables and bench fee issues.

10. Ultimatum given to me by the University to accept a new Director of Studies with whom I already had an issue and supervisory team in my third year or withdraw from the PhD Program.

11. Threats, intimidation, humiliation, bullying from the Director of studies and other staffs of the University of Sunderland.

12. Use of disciplinary proceedings to defeat a legitimate complaint. This amounts to  me suffering a ‘detriment’ for having raised a concern.

13. Evidence of ‘cover up’ re: stepping down of director of studies  and during investigation phase.

Reasons for taking a legal action against University of Sunderland

 I have followed the due process including all the internal procedures of the University of Sunderland’s Student Complaints. I also lodged a formal complaint to the Office of independent Adjudicator (OIA) on the mismanagement of my PhD Program by University of Sunderland but I’m not satisfied with the hasty, unprofessional, unfair, biased and prejudiced outcome as the OIA did not base their outcome on available evidence and facts. The University of Sunderland’s investigators report contains several fabricated lies, misrepresentation, distortion of facts, conflicting and contradictory statements all in an attempt to cover up and avoid likely sanctions.

The University admittedly offered a letter of apology, payment of a ridiculous sum of £15,500 as a refund of fees and bench fees out of a cumulative sum of £46,961.20 I paid and payment of £15,500 for distress it caused me. The University also offered a fee waiver should I choose to return for a new PhD Program and start all over after wasting my four valuable years.

I declined the University of Sunderland’s offered palliative for ruining my career and I’m not prepared to return to the extremely hostile and discriminatory University of Sunderland  so as not to cause more harm to my mental health.  Besides, I have completely lost trust and confidence in the University of Sunderland.

My contract of 4 years with the University has lapsed. I fulfilled my own side of the obligations with the University of Sunderland while the University chose not by changing the rules towards the end of the tournament.

The next available option for me is to institute a legal action against University of Sunderland and

i. Demand for refund of the  tuition, bench fees and write up fee I paid in full  (TOTAL: £46,961.20 ) with interest.

ii. Demand for adequate compensation for the valuable time wasted, the opportunities forgone from 2017 to date.

iii. Adequate compensation for the stress induced health challenge I am suffering, the psychological trauma.

iv. for jeopardizing my academic career.

v. Compensate me for racial discrimination and

vi. The University of Sunderland to reimburse the legal fees I incurred for engaging the services of an educational solicitor from 2020 till date.

vii. A written apology by the University for the breaches in respect of its obligations to me under the student contract.

Why I need your help?

 I am seeking for financial support to commence a civil litigation against University of Sunderland for redress.

I paid the University of Sunderland tuition, bench and write up fees from 2017 till 2021 amounting to £46,961.20  but did not get what I bargained and paid for simply because of my race. It is settled that no one should be denied education because of race or colour but in my case I was denied.

Why am I raising fund?

 For me to engage the service of a good barrister and solicitor to handle my case will require substantial financial resources to settle the legal cost which I  can’t afford.  I engaged an Educational Solicitor from 2020 till date and have been responsible for the legal fees charged till date . I will not be able to finance the cost of the civil litigation which is usually very expensive. I need to be heard and not to suffer unjustly in the hands of University of Sunderland because  of my race.

How can you help?

I am soliciting for everyone’s financial assistance to institute legal action against University of Sunderland for the unfair treatment, injustice, breaches, negligence, injury caused to my health, truncation of my academic career and racial discrimination. No amount is too small to enable me get justice.

All financial support will go directly to my solicitor at Cheadle solicitors. I am  currently not sure how much the legal fees for my solicitor and barrister would cost, however  I would require £10000 to get my case started. I would provide an update as soon as I know the overall cost of the legal fees.

Please consider sharing the link on all social media platforms. Thank you so much for your help while I promise to keep you all updated as I progress with the case..