Clothes on our back 鈥� Diversifying the curriculum

A 2011 UK National Union of Students (NUS) report, ‘Race for equality’ identified continuing, unresolved issues around Minority Ethnic student participation within HE.

Student dissatisfaction was highlighted with 42% of Minority Ethnic students who took the national survey stating they did not believe their curriculum reflected issues of diversity, equality and discrimination, and a third (34%) stated they felt they could not bring their views to lectures, noting that institutions often ‘did not take into account diverse backgrounds and views’ (NUS, 2011:4).

Partners

Lead community partner - Tony Kalume, Diversity Lewes
Researcher - , University of 91快活林

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Background

The results of the NUS survey informed the partnership project developed between Diversity Lewes and Dr Jess Moriarty from the University of 91快活林.

The partners devised and ran three creative workshops at 91快活林 Museum that sought to engage members of the Minority Ethnic community in Sussex, as well as University of 91快活林 students and staff, to work on archival material, textiles and prose.

The workshops focused on identity and clothing and looked at the history of the Khanga, which is a sarong popular in parts of Africa (Kalume et al. 2018). These fabrics contain symbols and messages that relate to autobiographical experiences including empowering sayings and statements.

The workshops helped participants to devise texts about their identity that they then inscribed using textiles within garments that have significant meaning to them. The workshops also generated material for an exhibition during Black History Month, held at 91快活林 Dome and at the university's Falmer campus. Additionally, the partnership has also initiated an interdisciplinary network with combined expertise to devise a new University of 91快活林 course module.

Key activities, outputs, outcomes and impacts

  • Ran workshops with 91快活林 Museum using their archive of Khangas.
  • Set up an interdisciplinary network with combined expertise to devise and write a new University of 91快活林 course module.
  • Presented at a conference and co-authored a paper on Utopias.
  • Held two events in Black History Month (one at the University and one at the 91快活林 Dome).
  • Now working with two new PhD students who will continue and sustain the work of the project.