Hi,

 

Wanted to share our upcoming BHM event with colleagues, please feel free to share…..

 

Best wishes,

Marcie

 

 

 

University of Brighton, Equality and Diversity Unit presents:

The Next Chapter | Our Future in Black and White

 

In celebration of Black History Month, the University of Brighton is hosting a ground-breaking, solution-seeking event for all staff, students and members of the community, aimed at examining the barriers that exist for BME students and staff in the Higher Education system and addressing solutions to overcome those barriers.

Following the national awareness campaign brought about by the film ‘Absent from the Academy,’ and the recent introduction of the Race Equality Charter Mark (REM) we hope to inspire positive dialogue about race equality in HE by engaging with those who have ‘broken the glass ceiling.’

We have a diverse panel, with broad expertise and experience, encompassing leading researchers on BME issues, social issues, leadership, and the student experience. The panellists also bring their own experiences to the discussion, as each have overcome barriers as part of the BME community.

“The Next Chapter | Our Future in Black and White gives us the opportunity to go back and take learnings from our past successes,
which is the embodiment of the Ghanaian concept of ‘sankofa,’ 
So that we may write a new chapter to our living, collective history.  ”

 

When | Friday, 9 October

Where | Sallis Benney Theatre, Grand Parade Campus, Brighton (directions here)

Time | 2:00 - 5:00 pm (registration to open at 1pm)

Cost | This event is free booking is recommended  (book here)

 

Programme

Welcome Remarks by Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chris Pole and SU President Hayley Wood
Film Screening Absent from the Academy
Panel Discussion & QA
Closing remarks by Former SU President Candice Armah
Drinks Reception to follow

Questions to be discussed

• How does everyone benefit from a diverse HE system?
• How does this impact me?
• What are the barriers for BME students and staff in HE?
• What is the BME academic flight?
• What's happening to address these issues?
• How can we change this dynamic?

Who should attend

All staff and students are encouraged to attend.  Community stakeholders, partners and those interested in HE topics.

 

Meet the Panel

• Mr. Rotimi Akinsete
  Director of Wellbeing, University Surrey and founder of Black Men Couch series, a unique program that aids in self-reflection, discovery and personal growth for black and minority men.
  Rotimi Akinsete has been working in the Counselling and Wellbeing field for over 15 years and holds a Masters degree in Therapeutic Counselling.  He was born in London and originally left school with few formal qualifications in the field.   He began his career in the field as a volunteer youth worker and, as young black man growing up in inner-city London, he knew first-hand about the many social, financial and political problems members of the black community faced every day of their lives.  Early in his career, Rotimi worked as a residential social worker employed in homes for looked after children. After returning to study, he began employment as a welfare advisor at the University of Greenwich using the skills he had learned from his work experiences. Whilst completing his university degree and doing scholarly research on black men and counselling in the UK, he worked as a trainer with the British Council on their international leadership programmes and then with the Metropolitan Police as part of a team of independent consultants conducting community race relations training in the aftermath of the Stephen Lawrence enquiry.
• Dr. Kalwant Bhopal
  Professor of Education and Social Justice and Director of Postgraduate Research Degrees.
  Her areas of interest and expertise are centred around the achievements and experiences of minority ethnic groups in education. She has a great deal of research experience in examining the lives of Black minority ethnic groups as well as Gypsies and Travellers. Her research specifically explores how processes of racism, exclusion and marginalisation operate in predominantly White spaces with a focus on social justice and inclusion. She is Visiting Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has been Visiting Professor at Queens University, Belfast and Visiting Scholar at the UCL Institute of Education, London.
• Dr. Nick Dennis
  Deputy Head (Academic) at Berkhamsted Boys School
  Nick has taught History throughout the age and ability range in the state and independent sectors and is Deputy Head (Academic) at Berkhamsted Boys School. In January 2016, he will be the Deputy Head (Academic) at Nottingham High School. He has advised a variety of schools and NGOs on the use of digital technology, worked as a freelance trainer for Apple and has written a number of teaching resources and articles including an audiobook on German History. He is currently completing research at the University of Oxford on the 'testing effect' in the History classroom. He writes about education, technology, learning and leadership on his blog www.nickdennis.com/blog.
• Mr. Babangida Abubakar
  PhD Researcher/Lecturer, School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brighton
  Babangida’s area of research focuses on algorithms, computer security and reliability, computer communications, where he also lecturers on these subjects.

 

Join us in writing the next chapter to our history! Book here

For more information on this & other Black History events, visit our Black History website at http://blogs.brighton.ac.uk/2015blackhistorymonth/

#thenextchapter

 

 

 

 

Marcie Boyer

Equalities and Compliance Officer

University of Brighton

01273 641256

 

Find us here:

www.brighton.ac.uk/equality

https://twitter.com/UoB_Equality

 

Committed to equality, embracing diversity