I chose to reflect on this article (pg 70-73) as it follows on nicely from some of the points I was exploring from Finnigan and Richards Retention and Attainment report around diversity within teaching staff.
I think this initiative by Aisha Richards is so important and have benefited from the programme first hand. I have been fortunate to work with a colleague who is currently part of the Teaching Within programme, who has been helping with design tutorials in the YR1 unit I have just led.
Although due to allotted teaching hours we were unable to fully embed them into the full unit, their impact has been huge. They have made impactful contributions to both us as a teaching team and also to the students. I’m hoping that we will be able to get them to join the team as AL for the same project next year and embed them into the planning and delivery of the unit.
The Teaching Within programme highlights teaching talent and provides opportunities to those that may not otherwise get those opportunities due to systemic and institutional inequities. It’s important that I and my team continue to work closely with the Teaching Within programme and provide opportunities for as many academics as possible, but the question still remains how can we change the systemic racism that exists within ‘traditional’ employment practices?