Events

There is a great need for equality, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) initiatives to recognise lived experiences as essential to sharing of knowledge and to directly inform practice. By using the University of Manchester, UK as a case study, this workshop aims were to:

• explore the diverse aspects of connectivity through leadership, teaching, learning and workings of our institution.

• explore co-production of knowledge and practices by members of the UoM community.

• identify synergies, interactions, and conflicts of EDIA to connectedness and inclusivity and, act on co-created ways to redress them.

Two workshops were developed based on the Principles-Focussed Evaluation approach in order to synthesise key principles for that guide our work and EDIA implementation at the Higher Education Institutions including the UoM.

The two workshops which involved six guest presentations from the academia, NERC’s Engaging Environments project, the professional science organisation (British Ecological Society), and from the Directorate of EDIA, People and Organisational Development of The University of Manchester, eight breakout sessions on pre-selected themes, evaluation of outcomes from guest presentations, knowledge exchange sessions and a call to action were attended by 110 participants from across the UK.

The target audience included EDI practitioners, academics and non-academics, students, researchers from The University of Manchester comprising people of diverse ages, ethnicities, career stages, and friends of The University of Manchester, UK community and participants from all parts of the United Kingdom. The outcomes of the first workshop were synthesized including surveys, interviews, audio transcripts, knowledge exchange sessions to show inclusivity is everyone’s responsibility. Following the outputs from both workshops 1 and 2, it became clear that the concept of connectivity and inclusivity could only be achieved if the following points are embedded into the leadership processes, teaching, research, and operations of the UK higher educational institutions:

1. By understanding the role of connectivity in nature’s ecosystem provides insight into the connectedness needed amongst human beings for effective inclusion and sustainable community development.

2. Create an enabling and welcoming atmosphere: by creating an enabling environment where people can feel free, safe, and be themselves will enable then to be open, connect with other people genuinely and expose them to other forms of learning.

3. A clear purpose for meeting in any community and amongst the people is vital for effective inclusivity and connectedness.

4. Be open to learn new things always: there is always something new to learn. Attend event like the connectivity and Inclusivity workshops with an open mind to learn from others; openness leads to a need to recognise problems and to act.

5. Share stories: stories provide a better understanding on what it means to be truly inclusive and connected; enables us to reflect on our own ways of perceiving issues and to correct/improve upon them.

6. Promote good values e.g. by actively listening to others’ lived experiences, being genuinely supportive. These can open new ways/approaches to implement connectedness in our communities.

7. Change in culture: incorporate learnings-principles, practices, at work (teaching/learning/operations) home and communities e.g. transparency and openness in decision making processes.

8. Apply lessons learnt from attending workshops such as this: identify areas that you need to change, adopt strategies to implement change and share with others what you have learnt.

What’s next?

Participants agreed to a “call for action” and, there will be a follow-up to the events and outcomes which will be communicated with participants and to all the other interested parties. To ensure connectivity and inclusivity in higher educational institutions, this starts with us as individuals. Inclusivity starts with I”  and we all have a collective responsibility. The discussion with this group is a great start to making the changes that need to happen both within The University of Manchester and more broadly.

The podcast from the workshops could be found here:

• Connectivity And Inclusivity In Higher Education- A Solutions' Based Approach_ Part 1 
• Connectivity And Inclusivity In Higher Education- A Solutions' Based Approach_ Part 2

Dr Cecilia Medupin is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, at The University of Manchester and convener for Women in Environmental Sciences group and, Connectivity And Inclusivity In Higher Education Institutions- A Solutions’ Based Approach.