David Ruebain, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Culture, Equality & Inclusion)

Update from David Ruebain to all students on our culture, equality and inclusion focus areas for this month:

Antiracism and Union Black

Thank you to everyone who has registered for the Santander Union Black online course over the past few months. Personally, I found it compelling and if you have already registered you still have time to complete it. Taking part is key to achieving our Antiracist Sussex aims.

Religion and belief forum

At Sussex we have a number of SATs (Self-Assessment Teams) relating to specific protected characteristics. We are now introducing a Religion and Belief forum, to help consider and address under-representation and disadvantage for this protected characteristic and also to provide pro-active support.

We would like to involve students and staff with a wide range of perspectives. If you would like to get involved, please email the EDI Unit (edi.unit@sussex.ac.uk) who are co-ordinating the Forum. Expressions of interest will close on 26 May.

Deaf Awareness Week

Deaf Awareness Week took place last week (2-8 May), highlighting issues around Deaf inclusion. We are committed to supporting our Deaf and hearing loss students, and a student and staff working group led by Claire Smith, Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor Education and Innovation, recently reviewed different options to improve captioning and so enhance the learning experience. A reminder of help available from our team of specialist Disability Advisors and administrators at the Student Support Unit. They provide confidential information and advice to students on disability-related study support and accessing disability-related funding.

Student interview

One of our students, Jethro Reeve recently interviewed me about my role at Sussex. We had a very interesting discussion about a range of topics relating to equality, diversity and inclusion. If you are interested, you can watch the video via this link.

Coming up:

Global Accessibility Awareness Day: 19 May

Digital access and inclusion is vitally important for us at Sussex and Global Accessibility Awareness Day is a great opportunity to remind ourselves of the ways we can make sure that our online learning and resources are usable for all students and staff but especially those who are disabled and who have impairments such as specific learning differences. You can find more about technology for studying at Sussex.

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month - June

Next month I have been asked to open an event which focuses on access to education for Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller (GRT) students. It will explore themes around learners from a GRT background in education; while the multi-media project looks at representation, cultural, and academic discussion.

The session will be held at the ACCA on 28 June and will have a programme of events organised by the Widening Participation team, including performance, music, film, awareness training opportunities, exhibition, journalism workshops around representation, and information tables.

Current students, academics, practitioners, school students, local authorities, the local community, and NGOs have had input into shaping the event, which is primarily for students and academic teaching staff. You’ll hear more about it in the coming weeks.

With good wishes,

David Ruebain
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Culture, Equality & Inclusion)