University of Surrey's Race Equity Conference 2024
Race, Identity and Society:
Building and Sustaining Equity in Higher Education and Beyond
The University of Surrey will bring together emerging and established scholars to tackle the greatest challenges to building and sustaining equity in higher education. Researchers from across the country will assemble to share their research, ideas, and perspectives on how the contemporary university can move towards becoming more equitable at this free to attend event.
Keynote speakers
Gus John
Professor Gus John is a scholar, activist and social analyst in the fields of education policy. During his career, he has been an advisor to national government on race and social inclusion.
He has been a trainer on race and equity issues for the last 50 years, specialising in assisting organisations in using equality and human rights legislation as a lever for building a culture of equity and combating discrimination.
Professor John’s latest books are ‘Blazing Trails – Stories of a Heroic Generation’ and ‘Don’t Salvage the Empire Windrush’.
Manny Madriaga
Dr Manny Madriaga is based in University of Nottingham’s School of Education as an Associate Professor in Education.
He is the Deputy Director for Equality Diversity and Inclusion and Athena Swan for the School. Dr Madriaga has expertise in access and inclusive participation in higher education.
He is currently a Leverhulme Trust Fellow 2023-24 conducting research on hope from the perspective of university leaders for anti-racist change in higher education.
Submitting an abstract
Postgraduate researchers, early career researchers and established academics from across the UK are invited to University of Surrey, Guildford, to share their visions for eliminating discrimination, removing disadvantage, and building collective prosperity.
Papers from thought-leaders in a range of academic disciplines will inform how we understand inequalities across the sector: from Education to Economics, from Physics to Poetry, from Developmental Psychology to Dance Performance.
The ‘Race, Identity and Society: Building and Sustaining Equity in Higher Education and Beyond’ Conference Planning Group is seeking abstracts that fall within any (or all) of the following three themes:
Yesterday
Researchers will unearth the roots and interrogate the legacies of racial inequality within higher education to understand the effect they have today and the impacts they will have tomorrow.
Today
Thinkers will investigate how differences in attainment, wellbeing and retention are affected by wider contemporary inequities in race and its intersections. We will emerge from the conference with a greater understanding of issues in higher education in the present moment.
Tomorrow
Experts will explore the forthcoming challenges to race equity within disciplines and the wider university landscape, while identifying the future opportunities that will help to build a more equitable society for people from all ethnic backgrounds.
Additionally, this conference wants to showcase emerging research talent from racially minoritised backgrounds. Hence, we are offering the following opportunity:
Platforming Black, Asian and minority ethnic PGR talent: novice researchers from racially minoritised backgrounds are welcome to present their work regardless of topic.
Presenters can submit an abstract for one of the following formats:
- 20-minute presentation (ECRs and experienced researchers) – 300 words max.
- One hour symposium – 500 words max.
- PGR 10-minute lightning talk with Q&A – 300 words max.
The deadline to submit an abstract was Wednesday 24 April 2024 at 5pm. Authors of successful abstracts were notified on Friday 3 May 2024.
Getting to the University of Surrey
The conference will take place in the Lecture Theatre Block on Stag Hill campus.
The University of Surrey is based in Guildford. It is easily accessible by road and rail.
Arriving by train
The nearest station to Stag Hill campus is Guildford. It is approximately 15 minutes' walk to the campus.
Arriving by car
The campus postcode is GU2 7XH.
Parking on campus
Limited parking is available on campus. If you require parking, including Blue Badge parking, please complete the link below.
Accommodation in Guildford
There are a number of options to suit a range of budgets.
Guildford Harbour Hotel (£££)
Four-Star hotel in the centre of Guildford includes on-site bar and restaurant, gym and conference facilities.
Mandolay (£££)
Four-Star hotel in the centre of Guildford includes on-site bar and restaurant, gym and conference facilities.
Holiday Inn Guildford (££)
Close to the University, includes on-site bar and restaurant, gym, conference facilities and parking.
Travelodge Guildford (£)
Close to the University, includes on-site bar and restaurant, and parking.
Programme
|
Time |
Location |
Activity |
|---|---|---|
|
8.50am - 9.20am |
Registration |
|
|
9.20am - 9.40am |
Lecture Theatre D |
Welcome to conference - Tim Dunne (Provost and Senior Vice-President) |
|
9.40am - 10.40am |
Lecture Theatre D |
Keynote 1 - Gus John (IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society and independent consultant) |
|
10.40am - 11am |
Lower concourse |
Break (with refreshments) |
|
11am - 12.15pm |
Parallel session 1 |
|
|
12.15pm - 1pm |
Lower concourse |
Lunch and networking |
|
1pm - 2.15pm |
Parallel session 2 |
|
|
2.15pm - 2.25pm |
Break |
|
|
2.25pm - 3.25pm |
Parallel session 3 |
|
|
3.25pm - 3.45pm |
Lower concourse |
Break (with refreshments) |
|
3.45pm - 4.40pm |
Lecture Theatre D |
Keynote 2 - Manny Madriaga (University of Nottingham) |
|
4.40pm - 5pm |
Lecture Theatre D |
Final reflections and close - Kiara Kataike (VP Voice, Students’ Union) and Eunice Ma (PVC Education) |
A full programme of speakers is available here.
We would be grateful if experienced researchers and early-career researchers try to attend a parallel session focusing on PGRs to support their development.
Activities and timings are subject to change.
Parallel session 1
|
1a: Science and Technology in Society Chair: Mia Korell |
|---|
|
Dara Lorianne Pierre |
|
Maureen Chiebonam Okibe, Michael Short, Franjo Cecelja, Madeleine Bussemaker |
|
Umar Farooq |
|
Jaixi Li |
|
1b: Allyship workshop Room B Chairs: Issa Robson and Cait Finnegan |
|---|
|
Namy Yu Diversity Book Club as a form of Allyship. |
|
Issa Robson and Cait Finnegan Active Allyship in Challenging Scenarios. |
|
1c: Racialised women’s experiences in reality and in fiction Room: D Chair: Anietie Aliu |
|---|
|
Janet Ramdeo The persistence and impact of appropriating controlling images to Black women teachers in schools in England |
|
Chigozirim Miracle Nwaosu Deconstructing heteronormativity in relation to lesbian identity: ‘on the gospel according to St Morality’. |
|
Anthea Benjamin Embodied experiences of racial trauma for black women. |
|
Shareen Holmer Nasim Increasing Board Diversity. |
|
1d: Narratives, Reflections and Journeys Chair: Zey Suka-Bill |
|---|
|
Maryam Bham Unveiling Realities: A Poetic Reflection of Race and Resilience in Higher Education. |
|
Harry Godfrey Sense and Sensitivity: Pressures, Publishing, and Diverse Narratives in Contemporary Fiction. |
|
Pranay Raj Shakya Cultivating Race Equity Allyship: Insights from the SEED Allyship Programme at the University of Surrey. |
Parallel session 2
|
2a: Decolonising Higher Education provocations workshop Chair: Janet Ramdeo |
|---|
|
KGOTLA: Arinola Adefila, Matthew Smith, Gillian Stokes, Janet Ramdeo, Caroline Burns, Luca Morini, Gurpinder Lalli and Saba Hussain Kicking the Hornets’ Nest: provocations on decolonising higher education in the UK. |
|
2b: Education and Educational Experiences Room D Chair: Harry Godfrey |
|---|
|
Mohammad Makram Mareye Mohammad Does race really matter? Understanding preservice teachers' perspectives of equality in the classroom. |
|
Yuan Zou Bridging Gaps Between Higher Education and Local Communities: Collaborative Efforts Towards Race Equity in Northern Ireland. |
|
Adeeba Ahmad To what extent does introduction of Mandarin in Pakistani higher education institutions lead to intercultural citizenship among students? |
|
Mali Gunter Exploring Successful Transitions for Disadvantaged Youth. |
|
2c: Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Room: E Chair: Dara Lorianne Pierre |
|---|
|
Martin Ruddock Looking for Underserved Populations in Digital Health Interventions for Asthma and COPD |
|
Wei Zhang Conceptualising well-being – a systematic review. |
|
Anietie Aliu Inequality in Breast cancer screening uptake by the Black African and Caribbean women in the UK - Discussing recent review findings. |
|
Ishmael Husbands What are Global Majority trainees’ experiences of microaggressions whilst on clinical psychology training? |
Parallel session 3
|
3a: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion workshop Chair: Sumeetra Ramakrishnan |
|---|
|
Sumeetra Ramakrishnan Understanding the concept of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) from a race and ethnicity perspective. |
|
3b: Race in Higher Education symposium Room D Chair: Christine Callender |
|---|
|
Race in Higher Education: student perspectives of decolonisation, belonging and 'support'. |
|
Zey Suka-Bill Unveiling Complexities: Melanated Student Engagement in Decolonisation Efforts within British Creative Arts Universities. |
|
Janet Douglas-Gardner Friendship conversations navigating the intersection of race, gender and ethnicity. |
|
Gideon Sappor The UCL BAME awarding gap – understanding student perspectives. |
|
3c: Policing and Power Room: E Chair: Anthea Benjamin |
|---|
|
Mia Korell The experience of a Black Police Officer and how disproportionality in misconduct functions to exclude them. |
|
Moslem Boushehrian Hate Crime Perception Amongst Various Ethnicities: Barriers to Hate Crime Reporting. |
|
Charden Pouo Moutsouka Space, Power, and Resistance: Unpacking the Dynamics of Authoritarianism and Civil Society Activism in Congo-Brazzaville. |
Registering for the conference
If you are interested in attending this conference, whether you are presenting or have an interest in the topics being discussed, please register via the link below.
Deadline for registration: Monday 3 June 2024, 5pm.
Timeline
Abstract submission opens: Monday 18 March 2024
Deadline for abstract submissions: Wednesday 24 April 2024
Successful abstract notified: Friday 3 May 2024
Deadline for conference registration: Monday 3 June 2024
Race Equity Conference Planning Group
Chair: Dr Janet Ramdeo Lecturer in Higher Education (Inclusive Education)
Membership
Catherine Batson Associate Director (Student Experience) - Library
Jo Huff Communications Coordinator
Sam Jones Head of Events, Communications and PA
Kiara Kataike VP Voice, Students’ Union
Mia Korell Student Representative (PGR)
Susan Lawson Strategic Communications Business Partner (FASS)
Dara Pierre Student Representative (PGR)
Mani Talwar Sales, Conference and Events Manager
This event has been sponsored by University of Surrey Provost's Office and by Research England and Office for Students through the 'Surrey Black Scholars' project.
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