EDI conference draws audience from across northern universities

‘Inclusion, Diversity and Equity: Advancing a Culture of Excellence in Higher Education’ welcomed four keynote speakers including the President of the National Union of Students, Shakira Martin

A CONFERENCE at the University of Huddersfield entitled Inclusion, Diversity and Equity: Advancing a Culture of Excellence in Higher Education – including keynote addresses from leading experts – has boosted its own strategy to enhance equality, diversity and inclusion amongst staff and students.

The event was attended by staff and students from ten universities throughout the North of England.  It was the latest in a series of annual EDI events that began in 2015.

After an introduction from University of Huddersfield Vice-Chancellor Professor Bob Cryan, the conference opened with Dr Emily Henderson – Assistant Professor of International Education and Development at Warwick University – who spoke on An intersectionality perspective on diversity in higher education – theory, method or practice?.

Professor Judith Rankin, who is Dean of Diversity at Newcastle University, gave a talk based on her experiences in the post Sharing the highs and lows of a University Dean of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.  She was followed by Professor Claire Warwick, Pro Vice-Chancellor: Research and Professor of Digital Humanities at Durham University.  Her talk was Powering up: a new northern network to improve equality, diversity and inclusion in engineering and the physical sciences.  Professor Warwick is Principal Investigator of Northern Power, a network funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s Inclusion Matters scheme.  The University of Huddersfield is one of nine universities and five industrial partners across the North of England taking part in the project.

The conference concluded with an address from Shakira Martin, President of the National Union of Students.  She praised the University of Huddersfield’s own Students' Union, including its innovative Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Ambassadors’ Scheme.  “At the Huddersfield Students' Union, we are committed to breaking down barriers in education and breaking down the barriers in society,” said Ms Martin, who also used her own experiences in an impassioned defence of the value of education.

The organisers were Olivia Briddon, Senior HR Officer (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) for the University and Dr Gemma Sweeney, Enterprise and Equality Manager in the University’s School of Applied Sciences.  “The aim of the 2019 event was to discuss and debate a broad set of themes around diversity, equality and inclusion, and share good practice”, said Dr Sweeney.  Olivia Briddon commented: “The speakers gave very insightful presentations on a range of EDI themes and shared some fantastic initiatives which we will look to adopt at the University of Huddersfield.”