Hear from diversity fund recipients as D&I seminars return

Colleagues recently awarded funding through the University’s Diversity and Inclusion Initiative Fund will share their experiences at the first Diversity and Inclusion Community of Interest (DICOI) of the academic year.

DICOI will meet termly in 2023-24, with the first meeting being held Wednesday 22 November, 12:30-14:00. The session is open to all colleagues; the first 30 minutes will be refreshments and a catch-up, followed by the seminar from 13:00.

Please register to attend this seminar by 1 November.

About DICOI

DICOI was established in response to requests for a safe and welcoming space to discuss diversity and inclusion (D&I) practice and network with likeminded colleagues.

Professor Billy Wong at the Institute of Education continues as co-chair of DICOI in 2023/24.

He is joined by Dr Michael Kilmister, who took over as co-chair from Dean for Diversity and Inclusion Professor Allán Laville. We thank Al for the tireless work in establishing the group as an important feature of the University’s teaching and learning landscape.

The group had a busy and successful inaugural year in 2022/23, convening a total of five times. Speakers and topics of discussion included:

• Equity, diversity, and inclusion and their future direction in teaching and learning, presented by Dr Eileen Hyder of the Centre for Quality Support Development (CQSD).
• Members sharing their D&I aims and hopes for the year, both individually and as a group.
• Key considerations for supporting continuing professional development of colleagues in diversity and inclusion, presented by Dr Michael Kilmister, Academic Developer in CQSD.
• Awarding and continuation gaps at the University, and discussion on how to close them, led by Mathew Haine, Student Outcomes Manager.
• Balancing students’ identities as learners and consumers, presented by Dr Louise Taylor, Principal Lecturer Education and Student Experience at Oxford Brookes University.

Become a member of DICOI

DICOI welcomes all colleagues, from both schools and functions, who are interested or engaged in D&I work, and would like to know more about initiatives happening in this important area.

You can sign up to the DICOI Teams site and mailing list by emailing ceara.webster@reading.ac.uk. Simply title your email ‘I would like to join DICOI’.