Join us for an event reflecting on the challenges and opportunities of diversifying the curriculum in the Humanities.
The University remains committed to creating an inclusive learning environment for our students, embedding equality, diversity and inclusion into the methods by which curricula are taught, the materials and activities used to support learning, and the classroom cultures fostered by student-staff interactions. Yet, the provision of inclusive education remains a constant challenge, reflecting wider inequalities that are deeply embedded in our society.
At this event you will have the opportunity to hear from Anwar Akhtar, founder and director of The Samosa, an arts and journalism charity that also works to embed diversity in curriculum in schools, colleges and universities. During this event, Anwar will present the extensive work that The Samosa have carried out to advance Arts and Curriculum Diversity.
Anwar Akhtar will also feature alongside a panel, comprising of academics from different disciplines within the Faculty of Humanities at The University of Manchester. An audience Q&A will follow the panel discussion.
This event is presented in partnership between the Faculty of Humanities at The University of Manchester, Creative Manchester and Samosa Media.
Register:
This event is free and open to anyone, please register via Eventbrite. If your plans change and you are no longer able to attend, please inform us or update your registration status on eventbrite.
Speakers:
Anwar Akhtar was born and grew up in Moss Side Manchester and as youth worked on Manchester’s Markets. He is founder and director of The Samosa, a UK arts and journalism charity that also works to embed diversity in curriculum in schools, colleges and universities. Anwar presented the Radio 4 Documentary Schools Apart, that explores inclusion, belonging and curriculum diversity. Anwar was previously Director of The Rich Mix Centre where he led the development of a new £30 million arts centre in East London.
He produced and presented the film Pakistan’s Best Kept Secret: Lahore Museum and was the production consultant on the play “Dara,” at National Theatre UK. Anwar is currently working on a documentary series about BAME business culture in the UK, and documentary on policing and race in Europe. He also teaches at several schools, colleges and universities in the UK and Pakistan.
Claire Alexander (Chair) is the Head of the School of Social Sciences and Professor of Sociology. She has researched and published on race, ethnicity, youth and migration in the UK for over thirty years. She is a member of the Centre on the Dynamics of Ethnicity (CoDE).
Sadiah Qureshi is a historian of race, science, and empire currently writing a history of extinction. She formerly co-authored the Royal Historical Society’s landmark report on racial inequalities in UK HE in 2018, and contributed to the Museums Association’s national guidance on Supporting Decolonisation in Museums (2021).
Marcellus Mbah is a Lecturer in Education and the Race Equality Lead in the School of Environment, Education & Development. His research examines the role of Indigenous Knowledge Systems within the nexus between Education (broadly defined) and Sustainable Development, with a particular focus on Climate Action (SDG 13). Other subjects of interest include decolonisation, widening participation, epistemic justice, service learning, and local/community development'
Reimi Sivalingam is a teaching-focussed lecturer and award-winning Programme Director of BSc (Hons) Accounting at Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester. As a digital champion and advocate for innovative approaches in teaching, Reimala embraces a broad range of digital tools to empower students to become autonomous learners. Her goal as an educator is to embed inclusivity by promoting active learning techniques that motivate, inspire, and challenge critical thinking to maximise students’ potential for intellectual and personal growth.
Meghan Tinsley is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology. Her current research engages with contesting statues, imperial nostalgia, and decolonising the museum. She convenes the Decolonial Reading Group, which draws staff and students from across the Faculty of Humanities and is the co-founder and co-convenor of the British Sociological Association's Postcolonial and Decolonial Transformations Study Group.
Aisha Akram (Students' Union Wellbeing and Liberation officer) Aisha is our Student Union Elected Officer for the area of Wellbeing and Liberation and brings a student perspective to conversations about EDI within the university. As someone currently trying to do work to diversify the curriculum, she is passionate about a curriculum that is representative of students and reflects the diverse population of students at our university.
Creative Manchester is an interdisciplinary research platform based at The University of Manchester. The platform champions research in creativity and creative practice, bringing together research communities with external stakeholders to explore new research areas and address strategic opportunities. Please visit the website for more information about Creative Manchester.
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