The University of Westminster welcomed colleagues and the public to take part in the Decolonising Teaching Workshop that offered new perspectives, taught innovative teaching practices and explored how to reshape education to drive forward the decolonisation of the curriculum.
The event was organised by the University’s Research Group for Inclusive and Sustainable Business and took place on 27 June at Westminster’s Marylebone Campus.
The workshop began with a welcome and introduction from Professor Charles Chi Cui, Professor of Marketing and Leader for the Research Group for Inclusive and Sustainable Business, who set the stage for a series of interactive and experiential sessions.
Evgenia Macleod, Principal Lecturer in Management, Leadership and Strategy, and a Director of Teaching, Learning and Quality in the School of Management and Marketing, kicked off the sessions with her reflections on the current educational landscape, derived from her insightful Learning Walks. These walks are brief and focused visits to classroom sessions to observe and assess how students engage with and respond to teaching, providing insights for enhancing instructional practices and student learning outcomes. This was initiated and done by the School of Management and Marketing in 2023-2024.
This was followed by Naseem Joban, Senior Lecturer and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Lead in the School of Management and Marketing, and Dr Sanjay Joban, Co-course Leader for PG Dip/MSc Counselling Psychology in the School of Social Sciences. Together they shared their approaches to decolonising the curriculum with examples from the School of Management and Marketing, highlighting innovative strategies that promote diversity and inclusivity.
There was also a series of demonstrations on non-colonial teaching methods. Dr Joban guided the attendees through one method - a Buddhist meditation activity that showcased its potential to foster a compassionate and open-minded learning environment.
Dr Anastasia Alexeeva, Lecturer in Management introduced techniques to enhance student experiences through body movement, drawing on the wisdom of Australia’s First Nations. This was followed by Naseem Joban who showcased the practice of collective dreaming inspired by American First Nation women. Professor Cui then demonstrated how Argentine Tango dancing can enhance competence in emotional communication and embracing uncertainty.
The workshop concluded with an audience-panel discussion about the phenomenon of dissociation, the mental disconnect from one’s thoughts, feelings and even sense of identity, and how it can be addressed through an inclusive curriculum.
Throughout the event a photo exhibition was on display, showcasing the work of students’ Diversity Fashion Show that provided a visual celebration of cultural diversity and students’ achievements.
About the workshop Professor Cui said: “The workshop showcases our colleagues’ innovative initiatives in decolonisation of teaching led by our EDI Lead Naseem Joban teamed with Anastasia Alexeeva, Evgeniya Macleod and Sanjay Joban. We hope our initiatives will inspire more efforts and collaborations across the University in decolonising teaching and enriching our students’ learning experience.”
This event directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4: Quality Education and 10: Reduced Inequalities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about the Research Group for Inclusive and Sustainable Business at the University of Westminster.
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