This chapter explores the university as a contested space—one that not only fosters knowledge production, socialisation, and cultural reproduction, but also perpetuates structures of exclusion and injustice. Drawing on ongoing work within a UK university, the author reflects on efforts to decolonise the curriculum, research, and institutional practices. Central to this exploration is the adaptation of Paulo Freire (1973) concept of critical consciousness, used here to frame the development of transformative communities within higher education. These communities aim to challenge systemic racism and reimagine the university as an antiracist institution. The chapter argues that building such a university requires more than policy statements and EDI frameworks; it demands a sustained, collective commitment to cultivating critical awareness and action across institutional boundaries. Through reflective practice and community engagement, the chapter positions decolonisation as an ongoing, dynamic process essential to achieving meaningful structural change.