Project Workers focus on key objectives designed to create a more equitable and inclusive educational environment at Hallam.
Your 2024/25 Project Workers
Familiarise yourself with what Chinenye and Iye are working on and get in touch with them to exchange insights or explore opportunities for collaboration.
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Chinenye Okonkwo
Anti-Racist SU Project Worker
chinenye.okonkwo@shu.ac.uk.
Chinenye's priorities
- Chairing the Anti-Racism Working Group to address systemic racism.
- Introducing a new Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) category at the Inspirational Student Awards to recognise outstanding contributions.
- Driving EDI efforts across all University departments. This involves reviewing student induction training to incorporate important content on microaggressions and enhancing the rollout of Inclusive Curriculum Training.
The goal is to create an environment where diversity is not only recognised but actively celebrated, ensuring that every student feels empowered and supported to succeed.
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Iye Orok
Degree Awarding Gap Project Worker
i.orok@shu.ac.uk
- Introducing an anonymous grading system to reduce unconscious bias in the assessment process and make our academic environment more equitable.
- Integrating Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) training into the University's induction process for staff and students to raise awareness of contemporary diversity issues and foster a more inclusive campus culture.
- Leading the effort to provide mannequins with different skin tones for wound care, venepuncture, and cannulation training since different skin tones present unique challenges, such as contrast in wound presentation and varying levels of contrast between skin and veins. Training on mannequins that mimic these differences will help nursing and midwifery students get a more realistic simulation and comprehensive learning experience.
Past research
Dami and Aidah, BAME Ambassadors 2023/24, worked to raise awareness of the degree awarding gap amongst students and established an Anti-Racist SU policy.
View Anti-Racist SU policy
Degree awarding gap
Dami and Aidah explain what the degree awarding gap is, how it came about, and the work they were doing to help reduce the gap.
Udeme, BAME Student Research Ambassador 2022/23, conducted new research into two main areas, barriers to sports and societies and the degree awarding gap. Both of these issues have looked at BAME students' experiences at Hallam.
Disaggregating the BAME Degree Awarding Gap: Understanding the Experiences of 'Black' Students
View full report
View report summary
Perceived barriers & potential solutions to participation in sports & societies among home BAME students
View full report
Anti-Racism Statement of Intent
As an institution committed to fostering an environment of inclusion, equality, and excellence, we recognise the profound impact that racism has on both our community and broader society. Racism, whether structural, interpersonal, or institutional, undermines the educational experiences of students and staff, obstructs opportunities, and reinforces inequality.
Key commitments
In response to these challenges, we are fully committed to the following actions:
1. Reflecting on the SU
We've established an Anti-Racist SU working group which will actively work to review HSU's internal and external practices and procedures to ensure they're inclusive and anti-racist. We're also committed to improving the representation of Black, Asian, and other minority groups in managerial and leadership positions, reviewing staff training, and engaging and co-creating with students on this work.
2. Tackling the degree awarding gap
Our institution will take proactive steps to help close the degree awarding gap that disproportionately affects Black and minority ethnic students at the University. By working with SHU to address systemic barriers within teaching, assessment, and support systems, we'll work to ensure all students, regardless of their background, have equal opportunities to achieve academic success at Hallam.
3. Addressing racism: reporting and safe spaces
We're committed to improving transparency and creating emotional security in how issues of racism are reported and handled - this will cover everything from societies and events to individual experiences. We'll review and strengthen our internal mechanisms for addressing racial discrimination and harassment to ensure they are accessible, fair, and supportive. By fostering a culture where individuals feel safe to speak out, we'll create a more open, responsive, and accountable institution. For example, we're currently working with the University to create an Anti-Racism mini module for incoming students, and providing EDI training for society members.
4. Collaborating with SHU, our students and other stakeholders
To tackle racial inequality, we'll actively engage with relevant stakeholders both in our SU, SHU, and in the wider community. This includes working with the EEDI team, Officers, student groups, community organisations, advocacy groups, and other educational institutions to share best practice and collaborate on initiatives aimed at dismantling systemic racism. Through these partnerships, we'll ensure our efforts contribute to broader societal change and align with national efforts to address racial inequity in higher education.
5. Empowering and celebrating action
We want to work towards celebrating and raising awareness of the good work going on at Hallam - in particular those who demonstrate exceptional commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment, highlighting their contributions as role models in the movement against racial inequality and systemic racism.
This is a declaration of our unwavering commitment to anti-racism. We believe a truly inclusive institution is one where every member of the community feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed. We will hold ourselves accountable to these commitments and ensure progress is continuously evaluated and communicated transparently.
For clarity, our initiatives are based on the following definitions:
Anti-racism - An approach that involves an ongoing process of actively identifying the different forms of racism and opposing it at an individual, organisational, and cultural level.
Racism - A system that manifests at an institutional level, structuring opportunities and assigning value based on race, ethnicity, language, religion, nationality, or national origin. Racism systematically disadvantages certain groups while granting unjust advantages to others, ultimately weakening society by wasting human potential. It's rooted in the belief that some groups are inherently superior, leading to discrimination, exclusion, and marginalisation.
FAQs
How can I become a Project Worker?
We welcome you to apply for a Project Worker role if you're a current SHU student and you identify as Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic. Applications open over the summer, so keep an eye out! Once live, read the job description to check the role is a good fit for you, then fill out the online application form to apply!
What is my SU?
We are your Students' Union (SU), run by students, for students. If you're enrolled on a course at SHU then you're a member of Hallam Students' Union too! We want to support you through your university journey and make sure you have fun whilst you're here. Did you know your SU provides opportunities to get involved in societies (or create one!), volunteering, activities, events, and even run for the position of an HSU Officer!
Why do we want Project Workers?
Project Workers provide Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) students at SHU with an added layer of support. We empower our Project Workers to create a supportive community for their peers. They help us to identify and address academic and wellbeing issues that could be sustaining the Degree Awarding Gap or detrimentally impacting the university experience of BAME students from the UK. Our Project Workers work to represent the Students' Union as well as to hold us accountable for any change and development we can make.
What is the Degree Awarding Gap?
The Degree Awarding Gap is the difference in degree outcomes for Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic students, compared to White students. Our Project Workers identify factors that maintain the Awarding Gap and come up with creative solutions to address them.
Why is your SU getting involved?
We try to support our students as best as we can, whether that's with wellbeing queries, academic support, or providing opportunities for employment. We want all of our students to thrive whilst at university, no matter what their background is! Our research has found that ethnic minority wellbeing and mental health are very important contributors to individuals' experiences at university, and that they are linked to degree awarding outcomes. We understand the many pressures some of our students face and want to help break down the barriers BAME students from the UK face within higher education.