PRaES members and other staff in the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences were part of an award-winning Decolonising the Curriculum Working Group in the University. The group was set up in January 2022 and in 2023 launched a Decolonising the Curriculum resource. In 2024 this work was recognised by a prestigious University Collaborative Award for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching & Learning, following a commendation from Advance HE in 2023. Here is some information about their work:
“The Decolonising the Curriculum (DtC) Working Group launched in January 2022 in response to a recommendation of the University’s Race Equality Review (2021). The Group included broad representation from across the University, comprising members from across academic schools and functions, students and representatives from Reading Students’ Union (RSU). Members collaborated to create an institutional vision and two sets of resources for DtC, co-produced with the student Inclusion Consultants. Facilitating a safe space, establishing trust and active listening were key to enabling students and colleagues to engage in open discussion throughout this process.
The Group’s work has had significant and wide ranging impact across the University and more widely. The DtC resources have been embedded in teaching and learning, including through joint RSU and University student-focused workshops, within University-wide ‘Inclusion by Design’ guidance, in the Academic Practice Programme, in the Awarding Gaps toolkit and workshops and in the Reading Researcher Development Programme. The DtC work has been disseminated widely both within and beyond the University and was awarded a commendation from Advance HE in January 2023.“