51Âþ»­

is the university’s initiative, which encourages staff and students to examine the everyday norms of university life to identify and eliminate systems, structures and behaviours that create disadvantage for ethnic minorities.

Launched in November last year, it focuses on decolonising the university as a whole rather than the curriculum alone, to celebrate the rich diversity of 51Âþ»­.

In the spring, there will be sessions in the Kimberlin Library to provide an opportunity to relate, share and discuss ideas and practice towards Decolonising 51Âþ»­.

Decolonising-dmu-main

Monday 13 January, 12-1pm, KL00.11 - Narnia Must Fall: people of colour in children’s literature

The lack of BME characters and authors in children’s literature has been recently highlighted by research from the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education and from Book Trust. This noted lack raises questions such as:

• How does this lack of BME characters and authors in children’s literature affect children?
• What can we do about it?
• What support can BME writers access?
• What barriers still need to be removed?

This workshop, led by Royal Literary Fund Fellow Leila Rasheed, will include highlights from a report on Megaphone: an Arts Council England funded project to support BME children’s authors, which she ran until 2016 and consider the above questions and more.

You can book onto this session .

Monday 3 February, 12-1pm, KL0.07b – Pride and Prejudice in the Archives: Issues with representation and access

A behind-the-scenes look at how GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) professionals manage problematic collections and the work needed to challenge elitist and oppressive frameworks within the archive in terms of BAME representation.

You can book onto this session .

Monday 9 March, 12-1pm, KL00.11 – BAME and Technology: building digital confidence through community and space

A reflection on the importance of the feelings of belonging and confidence in learning new digital skills; the need to ensure a safe space for learning and the power of language to encourage or disconnect.

You can book onto this session .