‘Equality’ and ‘diversity’ are more than just buzz words, and the School of History and Cultures (SHaC) at the University of Birmingham have recognised that. Although efforts to improve both are currently operating in the school, the department are aiming to improve them either further with the introduction of the Student Equality and Diversity Representatives specifically for the school. A number of students have been selected by the school to gauge student feedback in peer-to-peer events which will run throughout the forthcoming years. It will give students the opportunity to voice their concerns, or offer any help, in how the department can become more accessible for all students. It is hoped that the student representatives will engage with their peers to talk about LGBTQI+ needs, BAME student issues, learning and mobility accessibility, and anything else that students deem relevant to the topics of equality and diversity and how SHaC can help implement changes to improve what is being taught, and how it is being taught, for all students.
Dr Courtney Campbell who is the Equality and Diversity Lead for School of History and Cultures stressed how important the scheme is. “We want the school to be a place where all students feel they are part of an engaging intellectual community, but we realize that we have not fully achieved this. We hope that the Student Equality and Diversity Reps can help create a meaningful dialogue between students and staff where we learn, directly from our students, who is missing or what we can improve, and, in turn, through which we can communicate as well what projects we are developing to make SHaC and inclusive, welcoming, and intellectually engaging environment”.
Second Year History student, Ayesha Gyening, is one of the representatives and said “As one of the few BAME History students, I understand the importance of making the curriculum more engaging and diverse. Through our work, we hope to make the department a more welcoming and supportive place for people from all walks of life”.
The first events will be drop-in sessions which will take place on Monday 19 March 12-1pm in the Arts Lecture Room 8 (3rd floor landing) and Wednesday 21 March, 1-2pm in the Danford Room (Arts 224, 2nd floor). The Student Equality and Diversity Representatives will be there on both days to speak to SHaC students with drinks, biscuits, and potentially pizza!
To keep up to date with the work of the Student Equality and Diversity Representatives then please follow their Twitter: twitter.com/uobdiversity.