UEL offering equity and inclusion micro-learning courses

The University of East London will use GoodCourse to roll out TikTok-style, micro-learning courses on equity and inclusion to the University's incoming cohort of first-year students.

The initiative is being spearheaded by Professor Buge Apampa, Dean for the Office of Institutional Equity at UEL, who's responsible for advancing institutional equity for students and staff.

UEL was one of the first institutions in the country to be awarded Advanced HE's Race Equality Charter (REC)* - bronze award. The Charter provides a framework through which institutions work to identify and self-reflect on institutional and cultural barriers standing in the way of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students.

While some progress on equity, diversity, and inclusion has been made across higher-education institutions in recent years, deep-rooted racial inequity still remains. A report from Universities UK (UUK)** highlighted the awarding gap that exists at the vast majority of universities between students of different ethnicities. The report stated that it was imperative that "difficult conversations about race, racial stereotypes, microaggressions and biases are held within universities, regardless of feelings of unease".

UEL is tackling this challenge head-on, starting with first-year students who will be taking courses on bystander intervention and microaggression training. Where classic e-learning courses or in-person workshops have historically failed to engage student populations, Professor Apampa recognised the value of GoodCourse's learning design proposition - which encompasses TikTok-style videos to capture attention.