The term 'Decolonisation' in higher education carries diverse meanings, presenting both challenges and opportunities. The conference emerged from discussions within the NERUPI Student and Staff Race and Ethnic Equity (SsREE) working group about the unexplained degree awarding gap between different ethnic groups. It became clear that a transformative approach was required, focussing on innovative practice that fosters cultural shifts towards a more inclusive ethos. The conference will delve into the historical roots of decolonisation, reflect on personal decolonisation journeys, enable sharing of experiences and explore actionable strategies to support change and APP intervention strategies. Hear from speakers spearheading decolonisation efforts and discover subject-specific approaches designed to revitalise the curriculum and transform the culture of higher education.

Download the short Event Programme here

Download the long Event Programme here

Download the Speaker Biographies here

Suggested reading

APA https://www.apa.org/about/policy/racism-apology

Bell D. (2018). A Pedagogical Response to Decoloniality: Decolonial Atmospheres and Rising Subjectivity. American journal of community psychology, 62(3-4), 250–260. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12292

Bhambra, G.K., Nişancıoğlu, K. & Gebrial, D. (2020). Decolonising the university in 2020. Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power, 27(4), p. 509–516. https://doi.org/10.1080/1070289X.2020.1753415

Brene Brown Podcast https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-with-ibram-x-kendi-on-how-to-be-an-antiracist/

Leeds Trinity University The Awarding Gap and Anti Racist Practice, decolonizing, deconstructing, disrupting and developing a socially just consciousness; lets address and action the gaps (padlet.org)

LSBU. Vision statement on decolonising. https://decolonisingthecurriculumlsbu.wordpress.com/

Manchester Metropolitan University. Addressing Awarding Gaps https://www.mmu.ac.uk/about-us/professional-services/uta/reducing-awarding-gaps

Muminah Arshad, Rachel Dada and Cathy Elliott et al. Diversity or decolonization? Searching for the tools to dismantle the ‘master’s house’. London Review of Education. 2021. Vol. 19(1). DOI: 10.14324/LRE.19.1.19 https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10131371/1/lre19010019.pdf

Nag Chowdhuri, M., & Archer, L. (2023). Getting comfortable with discomfort: supporting primary science teacher educators’ capacity for socially just pedagogy. Journal of Education for Teaching, 1-15. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02607476.2023.2283436

Nag Chowdhuri, Meghna, Heather King, Spela Godec, and Louise Archer. "Towards justice-oriented science teaching: examining the impact of the science capital teaching approach on teachers." London Review of Education 21, no. 1 (2023). https://journals.uclpress.co.uk/lre/article/pubid/LRE-21-37/

Singh, G (2023) AI: lessons from the history of Western imperialism. Post-16 Educator 113. Pp19-21. Available at: http://post16educator.org.uk/resources/archive/113/PSE-113-Singh-only.pdf

Singh, G. (2023) Has decolonisation of higher education reached a dead end? Lecture Series on Decolonising Academic Practice, 2023 Birmingham City University, 2^nd May 2023. Online presentation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFl-cD7v7WU&t=22s

Singh. G (2023) Decolonisation and Identity Politics. Post 16 Educator. 112 July -Sept 2023. Pp12-15. Available at: http://post16educator.org.uk/resources/archive/112/PSE-112-Singh-only.pdf

Recommended post session reading:

Medical Apartheid- Harriet A Washington

Legacy- Uche Blackstock

I am not your baby mother- Candice Brathwaite