School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences EDI workshop
Our equality, diversity and inclusion workshop was held on 13 June 2024
In SoGEES we celebrate the diversity of our staff members and recognise the best workplaces will always be inclusive workplaces. In 2019 we identified and signed up to a series of principles to foster inclusivity and respect in SoGEES, and in keeping these principles alive as we go about our day-to-day business staff development events are essential.
Professor Jon Shaw
Head of School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
A huge thank you to all those who attended Theatre Forum Workshop in June. The level of engagement from staff really was incredible, and we have set into motion next steps to take forward from your feedback, summarised at the end of the document. We’ll you updated on our progress on these actions as we move forward together.
Dr Kim Ward
EDI Lead
Outputs from the session
Stop
- being a passive bystander
- unprofessional behaviour
- supporting power dynamics
- avoiding addressing issues.
Keep
- EDI in committees
- supportive PDRs
- running workshops for staff
- nominations for awards
- social and collaborative environment.
Start
- protect time for staff engagement
- formal in-person training
- prioritise value of EDI as professional development
- promote ‘Our Principles’ document
- make the incident/conduct reporting process and outcomes clearer
- empower people to take action.
Attendee feedback
- 100% of respondents agreed that the workshop was engaging and interesting (71% strongly agreed) and 100% agreed the workshop was worthwhile (57% strongly agreed).
- 100% agreed the forum theatre performances helped me better understand non-inclusive behaviours and unconscious bias (43% strongly agreed).
- 100% agreed their understanding of neurodiversity had improved following the workshop (29% strongly agreed).
- Concerns around these discussions being forgotten if we do not follow up on actions and keep the momentum going, as well as concerns around voluntary training not reaching those who may need it most.
Staff responses
- Group discussions were open, honest, lead to new ideas and hearing.
- Performances were immersive, stimulated conversation and highlighted things that could be overlooked.
- Greater awareness of self and others.
- Confidence to speak up and challenge non-inclusive behaviours.
- Engage with people and situations and more thoughtfully.
- More encouragement for attendance and providing staff with adequate time to attend.
- More information about neurodiversity and how to support neurodivergent staff and students.
Our next steps
- Propose a neurodiversity awareness training session/webinar for all staff to increase understanding of different neurodivergent conditions and feel equipped to support neurodivergent staff and students.
- Update the ‘Our Principles’ document according to staff feedback, print posters promoting ‘Our Principles’ to display in staff areas and distribute the document to all committees in SoGEES.
- Organise a talk from the University Wellbeing Officer and Faculty Wellbeing Team in an all-school meeting to promote available support for staff.