How are UK Universities Celebrating Black History Month in 2023?
October is Black History Month, and universities across the UK are commemorating the contributions of Black people throughout history, as well as spearheading campaigns to promote the leadership and success of Black graduates in the future.
We’ve taken a look at five of our favourite Black History Month events and campaigns!
#1 Events for aspiring Black researchers at the University of Essex
We were excited to see two PGR-focused events on the University of Essex’s Black History Month agenda. Firstly, an “Access to Academic Careers” workshop which feature talks from Black academics at the university, to share their experiences and offer advice to aspiring researchers. Secondly, a mixer event for incoming Black PGR students!
#2 Your Community, Your Imperial at Imperial College London
Next up is the winner of our 2023 Postgrad Awards Outstanding Contribution to Postgraduate Support & Wellbeing category, the Your Community, Your Imperial campaign from Imperial College London. This widening participation initiative is dedicated to fostering Black inclusivity at the university.
This campaign stood out for its efforts to have Black students’ experiences at its centre and to create material opportunities for them going forward, through activities such as a postgraduate-themed Black Graduate Careers Conference.
#3 Networking session for aspiring Black, female engineers at the University of Birmingham
Up next is another career-focused event, organised by the University of Birmingham in collaboration with Women in Rail and transportation company Simeons Mobility. This industry networking session is specifically for Black women aspiring to work in the engineering industry.
The event has been inspired by Black History Month’s 2023 theme, “Celebrating our Sisters”, which aims to celebrate the achievements of history’s Black women and empower future generations. Its pragmatic focus on an underrepresented demographic within a specific industry caught our eye!
#4 Black History Walking Tour at the University of Edinburgh
Undergraduate and postgraduate students will get to learn about the often-overlooked history of Edinburgh’s Black communities during this private, student-only walking tour, led by a member of the university’s History, Classics and Archaeology department.
The tour will show the impact of how Edinburgh’s residents of African, African American and Caribbean descent have helped shape its culture, from the 16th century up to the present day. We loved this use of faculty expertise to showcase a university city’s history through an alternative lens.
#5 Allyship hub at Bournemouth University
Fostering inclusivity in a university environment requires participation from people of every background. That’s why we loved Bournemouth University SU’s Allyship Hub, which contains a wealth of text, video and audio resources to help students outside of the Black community understand the issues it faces.
Beyond promoting education and awareness, the hub lists a variety of organisations that visitors can support in order to have a tangible impact.
How is your university celebrating Black History Month this year? We’re keen to hear about all the great work you’re doing! Let us know at [email protected].
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