Diversity celebrated online at Inclusion Week 2021
The University recently took its second-ever Inclusion Week online with a series of events that celebrated the diversity of the institution.
The COVID-19 pandemic meant that all this year’s events took place digitally, but that did not stop staff and students engaging with events to promote the importance of inclusivity.
“Inclusion Week is a great opportunity to raise awareness and celebrate the diversity of our staff and student community, as well as helping to develop skills and an understanding of inclusive practice” said Olivia Briddon, Huddersfield’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager.
The week began on International Women’s Day with an event entitled ‘Inspirational Women’, featuring our very own Professor Dame Jane Jiang and Professor Joanne Garside, alongside Maggie Birkenshaw, our former security manager and the current Assistant Coach with Leeds Rhinos Netball. The trio reflected on their career journeys and professional experiences of progressing to and holding senior positions.
Jane Jiang, Joanne Garside and Maggie BirkinshawStonewall’s Cake Bennet explored the importance of language with a focus on trans and non-binary inclusion, as well as looking at the history of Stonewall itself.
Sharon Morgan, Senior Disability Adviser and Project Coordinator, delivered a thought-provoking session about dyslexia that offered practical solutions on how to present information and support students in the learning environment. Sharon also contributed to the Designing Inclusiveness course alongside Anna Powell, Senior Registry Officer (Curriculum Management), about the University’s recently published Inclusivity Framework for Course Design.
Huddersfield’s Delroy Beverley, Managing Director for York NHS and a University Council member gave a talk entitled ‘A Debt that Remains Owed’ speaking about the importance of inclusivity and how he has remained driven to ensure there are more black, Asian and minority ethnic people in board and executive management positions based on his own very successful career and those who have paved the way for him.
The week was rounded off by Ann Marie Brabiner from Carers Count hosting a session that offered advice and support to those among the five million cares in the UK juggling caring responsibilities with work.