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Sussex set to host ground-breaking Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller education event
Posted on behalf of: Internal Communications
Last updated: Friday, 24 June 2022
To mark during GRT (Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller) History Month, on Tuesday 28 June the University’s Widening Participation team will deliver a programme of insights, training, and discussion entitled ‘GRT in Education’.
Schools and Colleges Partnership Manager, Chris Derbyshire said: “Children from Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller backgrounds have the poorest GCSE outcomes of any measured ethnic or cultural group. They’re 11 times less likely to go to university than their peers.
“People should be talking about this - and tackling the barriers to education these learners face. That’s what this event is about. The programme we’ve created is truly collaborative, with input from students, academics and practitioners, local authorities, charities and community representatives.
“Sussex is dedicated to making a better world. We hope you will leave more informed about the richness this community brings to our society, and mindful of some of the engrained prejudices that we can all help to challenge.”
This free, in-person event will take place in the Attenborough Centre and have an informal ‘gallery-style’ feel offering an exhibition space, information stalls, film, networking, and free buffet available throughout.
There’s no need to commit to the entire day. You can attend the sessions that are most relevant to you. However, there are some significant timings:
• 2.10 pm: Welcome talk and contextual introduction by Pro Vice Chancellor of Culture, Equality and Inclusion, David Ruebain, and Director of Communications, Marketing and Advancement, Emily Tofield
• 2.30 pm: Theatre performance and live music
• 3.00 pm and 3.30 pm: GRT ‘awareness’ workshops
• 4.00 pm: Forum discussion on academic representation
GRT in Education will be of particular interest to professional services colleagues working in: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Student Experience and Communications; and Communications, Marketing and Advancement. Academic colleagues from the School of Media, Arts and Humanities (Journalism) and the School of Education and Social Work (PGCE) are also encouraged to attend.