Discussing Decolonisation: A mini-series at YSJU for 2023-24

‘Discussing Decolonisation’ is a six-part mini-series taking place in person and online across the academic year 2023-24, hosted by the Teaching and Learning Enhancement Team at York St John University (YSJU).

The series aims to showcase and critically engage with the vital work that staff and students across the sector are undertaking to develop anti-racist and decolonial praxis in Higher Education (HE). Participants will be encouraged to reflect on their own positionality, practices and roles in relation to anti-racist and decolonial work, with individual/personal, institutional and broader structural lenses being considered. 

Series organisers Dr Laura Key and Lucy Potter hope that these events will facilitate collective knowledge building and critical exploration of a range of differing perspectives, as well as functioning as a call to action to all those engaged in HE at YSJU and beyond.

The events include talks, workshops and discussions with some of the leading voices in anti-racist and decolonial scholarship and action today, and are designed to be participatory in nature. The audience will be invited and encouraged to take part in challenging activities and critical conversations, and to take away resources and actions to empower them to develop their own approaches to anti-racism and decolonisation in HE.

Schedule of events:

Monday 27th November, 13.00-14.30: an online Q&A with Dr Adam Elliot-Cooper (QMUL) and Dr Amit Singh (Manchester) on the problems and potential of decolonisation within HE (Please note change of date and line up from those originally advertised).

Friday 15 December, 13.00-14.30: an in-person workshop with Naomi Smith (UWL), Fezile Sibanda (Sussex) and Dr Alice Corble (Sussex) from the Critical Race Theory collective (CRTc) on resistant knowledges in educational spaces [CC/201].

Tuesday 6 February, 16.30-18.30: a guest lecture by Dr Anna Bernard (KCL) on decolonising literature in theory and practice, followed by a drinks reception in the Creative Centre (York).

Friday 22 March, 15.30-16.30: an in-person discussion with Prof. Esther McIntosh (York) on colonialism, sexualised violence and global feminism today [HG/136].

Wednesday 10 April, 13.00-14.30: a ‘courageous conversations’ workshop with Dr Karen Lipsedge (Kingston) on campus in York [FT/211].

Wednesday 8 May, 17.00-18.30: an in-person workshop with Prof. Vini Lander (Leeds Beckett) on anti-racism and decolonisation within Initial Teacher Education [CC/011].

Monday 24 June 2024, 12.00-18.00: end-of year celebration with a talk and call to action from Haddy Njie (IERK, York), creative reimagining activities, local community organising, plus food and conversation! This event will take place in and around the Creative Centre, in York. More information soon! 

Booking for all events is via Eventbrite, and you can view and book your place at all events in the series here.

If you have any questions or concerns ahead of the event, please email co-organisers of the series, Lucy Potter (l.potter@yorksj.ac.uk) and/or Laura Key (l.key@yorksj.ac.uk), from the Teaching & Learning Enhancement (TLE) Team.