09.30
| Platform opens for self-navigation and exploration
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10:00 -
12:30 | Opening plenaries
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10:00
| Opening remarks
Professor Quintin McKellar, Vice-Chancellor, University of Hertfordshire and Vice-President for England and Northern Ireland, Universities UK
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10:10
| #ClosingtheGap – Two years on and what progress have we made?
Baroness Valerie Amos, Master of University College, University of Oxford |
10:15
| Implementing a whole university approach
Dr Zainab Khan, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, Director of the Centre for Equity and Inclusion, London Metropolitan University Mary Makinde, Strategic Lead for Closing the Gap and Senior Lecturer in Forensic Investigation, Canterbury Christ Church University
Change can be achieved with strong leadership driving institutional change and ensuring that holistic approaches are formally adopted and embedded into relevant policies and plans. This session will provide examples of best practice and progress that is being made by implementing integrated and encompassing strategies.
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10:45
| Overcoming barriers on the pathway to professorship and senior leadership
Nona McDuff, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Students and Teaching, Solent University
Adesewa Esther Adebisi, Former Education Officer 2019/20, University of Huddersfield Students’ Union and current MRes Oncology Student, University of Manchester
Dr Lasana Harris, Associate Professor, Experimental Psychology, UCL Ben Browne, Chief Operating Officer, De Montfort University Academics from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are under-represented at all levels. Having so few black academics, specifically black women, reaching professorial level and beyond not only highlights the structural racism present in the sector, but it also has an impact on BAME students and their student experience. If students cannot see themselves reflected in their teachers and university leadership, they may disregard this as an option for a future career path. Both staff and students deserve to feel like they belong to their university community.
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11:30
| Short break
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11:50
| Beyond the awarding gap – considering contributing factors
Professor Ruth Taylor, Vice-Principal Education, University of Aberdeen
Dr Omar Khan, Director, TASO
Dr Arun Verma, Head of Race Equality Charter, Advance HE Contextually there are factors that disproportionately affect people from different ethnicities that can exacerbate issues such as the degree awarding gap. From the covid-19 pandemic to tackling racial harassment within universities and problems with the wider education system; this session will discuss the wider picture we face.
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12:30
| Closing remarks
Professor Quintin McKellar, Vice-Chancellor, University of Hertfordshire and Vice-President for England and Northern Ireland, Universities UK
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12:30 - 13:00
| Break from sessions
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13:00 - 14:00
| Virtual conference café
A networking session - The intersections of disadvantage
Hosted by Dan Hurley, Policy Manager, Universities UK This networking session is an opportunity to network with colleagues across the sector to share best practice, discuss highlights and challenges with the work that has been happening at different institutions. The topic for discussion will be how do the intersections between ethnicity and other characteristics, such as gender, disability and class, relate and contribute to the awarding gap? |
14:00 - 14:30
| Break from sessions
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14:30 - 16:00
| Breakout sessions - choose one to attend
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| Supporting women of colour in HE
Maisha Islam, Student Engagement Research and Projects Officer, University of Winchester
Professor Iyiola Solanke , Chair in EU Law and Social Justice, University of Leeds
Tessa Read, Deputy Head, UAL Careers and Employability, University of the Arts London
Sat Sehmbey, Employability and Industry Manager, University of the Arts London
This session will delve deeper into issues of race and gender inequalities with initiatives and research that has been taking place to support women of colour within university communities.
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| What works? Evaluating your interventions
Dr Eliza Kozman, Deputy Director (Research), TASO
Dr Ada Adeghe, Associate Dean, Inclusivity, University of Wolverhampton
Dr Martin Heaney, Co-director, Centre of Applied and Participatory Arts, University of East London
Chair: Dr Helen Barefoot, Deputy Director of the Learning and Teaching Innovation Centre, University of Hertfordshire
Despite Universities being individually unique, utilising sector networks and counterparts is an effective way of sharing best practices and experience of what works. This session is an opportunity to hear about some specific case studies before embarking on discussion in small groups to discuss both positive and negative interventions.
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| A sense of belonging: understanding students’ learning experiencesGavin Douglas, Senior Lecturer in Fashion and Founding Co-Chair of Global Ethnic Majority Staff Network, University of Northampton Malone Mukwende, Medical Student, St George’s, University of London and Co-Author, Mind the Gap
Margot Turner, Senior Lecturer in Diversity and Medical Education, St George’s, University of London and Co-Author, Mind the Gap
Chair: Amy Dicks, Policy Researcher, Universities UK This session will focus on two different disciplines and the importance of understanding students’ learning experiences to improve their sense of belonging and create a more inclusive environment.
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16:00
| End of day one
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