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EDI Allyship workshop head

EDI Workshop: Allyship and the anti-racist campus

Two half day virtual workshops using allyship as a starting point to action; and proposing that for lasting change to take place in race equity, stakeholders must move beyond a general understanding of allyship to understanding this within the context of race.

Overview

Despite the best efforts of allyship movements over the past decade, issues around equity – particularly racial equity on campuses persist. Further, many universities are now engaging in conversations about racial justice, diversity, equity and inclusion; and some (cl)aim to be ‘anti-racist’; while this is promising, the evidence of this vision is often hazy. What therefore is an anti-racist campus and how do we get there? Is ‘allyship’ part of the problem – or an integral part of the solution? In seeking to respond to these questions, this session uses allyship as a starting point to action; and proposes that for lasting change to take place in race equity, stakeholders must move beyond a general understanding of allyship to understanding this within the context of race. We aim therefore to provide a space to deepen our understanding of allyship so that these conversations can be turned into action.

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Dates: 8 and 22 March 2023

Location: Virtual

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Workshop content

The blended module involves two half day virtual workshops with circa one hour of independent reflection and reading. The content will include:

  • Reframing diversity, equity and inclusion
  • Allyship and beyond
  • Developing a vision for an anti-racist campus
  • Barriers and enablers to the vision
  • The use of language within conversations about equity.
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Who should attend?

The programme moves from simple to complex and should therefore appeal to a range of audiences within the sector; whether professional services, new to academia, senior academic staff, or those in leadership roles. While this session will primarily reflect on the EDI landscape of the UK higher education sector, there will be underlying issues and approaches that will be of interest to our global members.

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Learning outcomes

On completion, participants should be able to:

  • To redefine and develop a shared understanding of foundational terms
  • To operationalise the concept of an ‘anti-racist’ campus
  • To develop a literacy around race to enhance
  • To revisit the notion of ‘allyship’
  • To identify race equity detours and discuss practical ways to overcome them
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Who is delivering the course?

Lead Consultant, EDI
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Advance HE
Dr Lindy-Ann Blaize Alfred
Dr Lindy-Ann Blaize Alfred is a Lead Consultant, EDI at Advance HE. A Senior Fellow, Lindy-Ann brings over three decades of experience in a range of education sectors both nationally and internationally.

Educational Developer: Climate, Racial and Social Justice
Mia Liyanage
Mia Liyanage is a decolonisation advocate working across UK higher education. She is the author of 'Miseducation: decolonising curricula, culture and pedagogy in UK universities', published by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) in July 2020. She is currently Educational Developer: Climate, Racial and Social Justice at University of the Arts London (UAL). Mia's roots are in student activism; she was Co-Chair of Common Ground Oxford, a student movement challenging racism, classism and the legacy of colonialism in both the University and the city of Oxford. She has also worked in EDI teams at Goldsmiths and UAL, and as a consultant at multiple institutions.