YSJ, Academic Development Programme
Professional Development for Learning, Teaching and Research
Discussing Decolonisation 2025/26
October 8, 2025 - June 26, 2026
About:
Co-convened by Lucy Potter and Laura Key, from the YSJ Teaching and Learning Enhancement team, the Discussing Decolonisation event series continues in 2025/26 with a range of guest lectures, workshops and panel discussions taking place in person and online over the course of the academic year.
The series aims to facilitate collective exploration of the history, theory, politics and praxes of decolonisation and anti-racism whilst also functioning as a call to action and demand for change both within and beyond higher education. Attendees can expect the events to be probing, participatory and inherently political in nature – challenging us to think critically about the world around us and build movements equipped to address the increasingly urgent, interconnected struggles of the current moment.
Like last year, the 2025/26 series will be complemented by an internal reading and discussion group, enabling YSJ staff and students to engage more deeply with the key issues and themes of the events. Interested colleagues can also sign up to join our growing community of praxis to learn more and contribute to ongoing work in this area at York St John University.
If you would like to read more about our past events, please visit the Discussing Decolonisation 2023/24 and 2024/25 blog pages, and/or explore our rolling Eventbrite collection.
If you would like to receive updates about forthcoming events, please sign up for our Discussing Decolonisation mailing list.
Event schedule:
Wednesday 8th October, 5.30-7pm: Guest lecture by Dr Leon Sealey-Huggins (War on Want) on the intertwined struggle for racial and climate justice (Creative Centre, York, and livestreamed via Zoom)
Friday 6th February, 2-4pm: In-person discussion with Dr Silvia Hassouna (Durham) and Dr Hannah Boast (Edinburgh) on cultural and environmental activism in Palestine (CC/011) – rescheduled
Tuesday 24th February, 5.30-7pm: Guest lecture by Dr Aaron Winter (Lancaster) on racism, resistance and the Far Right (Creative Centre, York)
April 2026, date TBC: Hybrid panel discussion on data colonialism and ‘AI’, followed by decolonising methodologies workshop – more details to follow
May 2026, date TBC: Online PGR panel exploring the priorities and challenges for decolonisation in HE today (MS Teams)
Friday 26th June, 11am-5pm: Discussing Decolonisation across and against borders – summer finale event with refreshments provided (Creative Centre, with hybrid elements via MS Teams)
More information:
All events in the series are free and open to all (internally and externally).
Booking for all events is via Eventbrite, with each event bookable separately; the booking links for each event will be made available at least two weeks in advance.
If you have any questions about the series, please email co-conveners, Lucy Potter (l.potter@yorksj.ac.uk) and/or Laura Key (l.key@yorksj.ac.uk), or contact the Teaching and Learning Enhancement Team.