{"id":74,"date":"2017-12-06T12:33:41","date_gmt":"2017-12-06T12:33:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uogequality.wordpress.com\/?p=38"},"modified":"2024-05-15T08:03:56","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T08:03:56","slug":"media-schools-journey-towards-inclusion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.glos.ac.uk\/equity\/2017\/12\/06\/media-schools-journey-towards-inclusion\/","title":{"rendered":"Media School’s journey towards inclusion"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hi, this week\u2019s post features a guest blogger, Anne Dawson, Head of the Media School. Her post shares her journey, both personally and for the School, supporting our Challenge for Change project.<\/p>\n

I hope that Anne is the first of many guests. I think it is really important that individuals are encouraged and able to share their own stories. Sharing not only increases knowledge and understanding, but also inspires others to get involved, like those of you reading this blog.<\/p>\n

I guess on that note, it\u2019s time to handover to Anne.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When Clare asked me if the Media School would like to join the Equality Challenge Unit project I didn\u2019t hesitate for a second. As the American business guru Stephen Covey says:<\/p>\n

\u201cStrength lies in differences, not in similarities\u201d.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While our community of students and staff is a fabulous, creative, eclectic mix of people we are not as diverse in gender or ethnicity as we\u2019d like to be.<\/p>\n

As a manager I had always believed that I was doing all I could to create a more diverse environment. Since becoming involved in this project I realize that it\u2019s not enough to want something to change, or even to actively be open to it: you have to take positive action to bring it about. So straight away we began adding a phrase to our job adverts that we welcome applications from under-represented groups.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Next we thought about the people our students learn from and are inspired by. We currently have no black or Asian staff in the school; but there are hundreds of people from ethnic minority backgrounds in prestigious positions in film, TV, media, music and journalism, so we are now inviting some of them in as expert guest lecturers. Each year we hold a week-long Media Festival. This is a series of lectures and workshops from industry professionals. In 2018 we will have our most diverse guest list yet!<\/p>\n

Responding to research showing an attainment gap, we considered what we could do in teaching and learning to support students from a broad range of backgrounds. So four of our academics\u00a0are working on a project designed to unpack assessment and make it more accessible.<\/p>\n

As a senior manager I have been offered a fantastic opportunity to take part in the reciprocal mentoring scheme that Clare refers to in a recent blog<\/a>. I have met my student partner, had a chat about what we can both get out of this and I look forward to seeing what path it will take. The relationship between academics and our students is a respectful partnership, sure,\u00a0 but however much we feel we are treating them as equals, there will always be a power gap. We are in the position of expert teachers and responsible for their progress. A reciprocal mentoring scheme is a very different thing and for any academic or manager there is a lot to learn.<\/p>\n

So \u2013 it\u2019s been a steep learning curve! I think, like lots of things in life, the more you learn the more you realize you don\u2019t know: but it\u2019s great to be involved and may Challenge for Change help us all towards a more genuinely diverse world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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