[This will be a dynamic page, where I will keep adding the videos and blog related to the video series]
The Celebrating small steps in HE video series is emanated from several attempts to tackle discrimination in HE, particularly racism, but then I just thought well why not put together my passion for working towards equity, sciences, technology, ethics, and law to showcase short examples of how small steps in HE can reduce discrimination.
So in Celebrating small steps in HE, I present to you some small projects which I have come across, some are projects on which I am collaborating closely and some are just projects that I have come across and which to some extent are solutions to problems that I am facing. The video series is presented as a short interview, but in which I have on purpose chosen to not feature myself, but only to have my voice and to have the focus fully on the participant. It is my way of valueing participants for their own effort, and not having me in the background or overshadowing them.
In case, where I feel the need, I supplement the videos with blogs, to add pieces of information I feel are missing what the interviewees have said, and also to add my own perspectives based on my own experience and my own observations. I feel it is important to express these perspectives because I often come across equity projects which are a reflection of a limited group of people, who are somewhat closed to perspectives that are outside their own understanding or comfort zone.
What to say?! I was made in Mauritius but moulded in India, UK, Greece, Spain, Germany, and Belgium. My first-hand exposure to this varied HE academic experience keeps empowering me to challenge the status quo when I witness discrimination. I call it intellectual bravery and also my personal experience of being a victim too many times.
This video series is also a committment for me to walk the talk as an advocate of video captioning, particularly within HE. Despite this being a small project where I am working on my own and by no means receiving financial remuneration, I have nonetheless committed myself that I will take the time and effort needed to provide captioning for all the videos released in this series (YouTube’s automatic caption does not do justice to accents and dialect).
This video series has in some way turned into an experiment, I have observed two interesting patterns, which I will share at the end of the year. These patterns are not new, they are the same old age patterns around discrimination, my observations are just confirmation of the concerns around discrimination and how discrimination is misunderstood and how inadequate some of the anti-discrimination measures seem to be.
Disclaimer: I am in no way advocating all the projects/activities/behaviours/mindset of any of my interviewees beyond their participation in this video series.
Videos in reverse order:
- Celebrating small steps in HE – Safe spaces for EDI projects ft. John Brindle Video | Blog
- Celebrating small steps in HE – Supporting for visa nationals students & staff ft. Dr. Olayinka Lewis Video | Blog
- Celebrating small steps in HE – Changing Mindsets to reduce discrimination at work ft. Dominic Pates Video | Blog
- Celebrating small steps in HE – Diversity in STEM, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome research ft. Sabeeha Malek Video
- Celebrating small steps in HE – Reducing discrimination in recruitment ft. Matt Lingard Video | Blog
Videos in the pipeline:
- Celebrating small steps in HE – Calling out on racism at the workplace – pending recording
- Celebrating small steps in HE – A trauma-informed approach to EDI – pending recording
- Celebrating small steps in HE – My name is Teeroumanee – pending recording
Reshaping HE - International, Inclusive & Digital Ed 