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Call for papers: AdvanceHE Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Conference 2020 (Edinburgh)
November 13, 2019
Courageous conversations and adventurous approaches: Creative thinking in tackling inequality
Conference 17th-19th March 2020, Edinburgh
Call for papers : 13th November, 2019
The theme of this conference speaks to the reality of EDI work in both HE and FE – a growing focus for attention internally and externally, ambitious, analytical, forward-looking, practical and increasingly complex. As EDI becomes more embedded in institutional values and strategy and becomes more of a measure for the student experience, institutional interest in creative responses to tackling inequality is growing.
Whether focusing on newly emerging issues or dealing with those that are stubbornly persistent, as a sector we can seek inspiration, insight and guidance to navigate the EDI landscape through sharing learning and advancing evidence-based good practice. Learning from both inside and outside the HE/FE sector can stimulate new ideas and innovative approaches to tackling systemic inequalities.
With institutions taking increasingly intersectional approaches to equality work, aspects of inequality once hidden and silenced are emerging in colleges and universities. Once considered taboo, issues such as gender-based violence, decolonisation, the menopause, and privilege, are now emerging areas of discussion and innovation. Creating space for once unspeakable conversations will increase capacity in the sector to examine the experiences of people who may be left behind in traditional approaches to equality and address emerging practical challenges. By linking policy and practice, this conference can facilitate a refreshed perspective to support the sector’s ambitious equality aims.
The three-day conference will focus on:
ensuring that approaches to EDI work for all; and
addressing current and future challenges and opportunities.
Through forecasting emerging EDI topics and priorities in the sector, the conference will create space for reflection and capacity-building through exploring two sub-themes: ‘courageous conversations’ and ‘adventurous approaches’. It will dig deep to explore hidden and emerging EDI issues, and highlight the best examples of creative, courageous interventions that are contributing to change.
Day 1 will have an additional focus on using positive action to advance equality in Scottish colleges and universities. As well as sharing best practice across the sector, there will be a focus on innovative approaches from outside HE/FE.
Conference structure
The conference will run across three days with delegates welcome to attend the full three days or choose from individual days and evening events.
- Tuesday 17 March 10am-5pm: Day 1: With a particular Scottish contextual focus relevant for both HEIs and Colleges in Scotland but also of interest for all UK participants to share learning and practice across all nations.
- Tuesday 17 March 6.30pm onwards: Dinner and debate with speakers for senior leaders in Scottish colleges and universities.
- Wednesday 18 March 10am-5pm: Day 2: Broad perspective for all those engaged in UK higher education and also Scottish colleges.
- Wednesday 18 March 6.30pm onwards: Reception and dinner for all delegates with evening speakers.
- Thursday 19 March 10am-4pm: Day 3: Broad perspective for all those engaged in UK higher education and also Scottish colleges.
Themes
The theme Courageous conversations and adventurous approaches: Creative thinking in tackling inequality will cover the following sub-themes:
Day 1 (Scotland focus)
- Leading the change: Embedding strategic approaches to equality in colleges and higher education institutions
- Mainstreaming equality – embedding a whole-institution approach through cultural and systemic change;
- Diversity in governance – moving beyond gender balance;
- Equality impact assessments – developing a strategic approach to effective and proportionate equality activity.
- Breaking the taboo: Addressing hidden and stigmatised areas of inequality confidently and effectively
- Sexual harassment in the workplace and tackling gender-based violence;
- Aging population of the workforce;
- Race equality, whiteness, privilege and power;
- ‘Hidden’ gender issues (for example: infertility, miscarriage, maternity/paternity/shared parental leave, breastfeeding/expressing support, menopause, gender and age discrimination etc.).
- Positive action: Advancing underrepresentation and inequality through targeted initiatives
- Being brave with positive action;
- Intersectional approaches to advance equality in student access;
- Increasing recruitment of disabled staff;
- Positive action in the promotion process.
Days 2 and 3
- EDI and leadership
- Inclusive leadership that really makes a difference;
- Genuine distributed leadership approaches for hierarchical environments;
- Strengths-based/neuroscience approaches to managing inclusively;
- Room at the top/related to top leadership;
- The role of governance in EDI.
- Belonging and safe space
- No right not to be offended? – navigating the tensions between protection from harm and freedom of expression.
- Supporting staff and students through hidden challenges (i.e. Infertility, miscarriage, infant loss, bereavement, menopause etc.).
- Rethinking the curriculum (decolonise not ‘diversify’).
- Bridging the gaps
- Creative approaches to pay gaps.
- Sponsorship/mentoring/reverse mentoring: creating the environment that supports the progression of marginalised groups.
- Increasing provision and uptake of shared parental caring, paternity leave, flexible working.
- Thinking forward: Effective management of EDI in a changing environment
- EDI in the global arena: partnerships, international campuses.
- Ambitious benchmarking/demonstrating impact.
- Innovative HR practices for recruiting, developing, valuing and rewarding approaches that value EDI.
- crisis or opportunity – building reputation and dealing with critical incidents in the digital age.
- Skills building for EDI change agents
- Responding to majority privilege – fragility, ownership and allyship;
- When speaking becomes doing – what makes EDI work effective in creating positive and sustainable culture change?
- Intersectionality in action – reflecting the lived experiences of staff and students facing multiple disadvantage in EDI work;
- The power of storytelling: the personal narrative as a tool for change.
Conference outcomes
The conference will:
- create space to engage with previously less-explored, hidden or ‘taboo’ equality issues and examine/encourage promising practice to address them;
- increase knowledge and confidence in the college and HE sectors to undertake positive action initiatives to tackle inequality and underrepresentation across student bodies, workforce and governance;
- improve institutional capacity to make progress on EDI in an increasingly complex environment;
- engage with leaders and influencers to foster dialogue on embedding a strategic approach to equality in colleges and higher education institutions
Advance HE has acted as a nexus for thought leadership and research into EDI policy and practice in HE and FE. The underpinning evidence base has been built up by and for the sector and is used to inform the work of policymakers and practitioners. With an ever-growing global community of member institutions and a portfolio of thematic communities with global membership, this conference seeks to promote the learning between individuals with a passion for transforming EDI activity in the sector to achieve real change.