I recently finished an interesting piece of work for the Centre for Equity and Inclusion at the University of Sheffield. The Centre works to enhance the university experience for postgraduate researchers (PGRs) of colour.
One of the ways in which the Centre delivers to this aim is through its knowledge exchange programme which enables PGRs to collaborate with racial justice projects in the city. PGRs attending a focus group to reflect on the work of the Centre told me that community involvement challenges the ivory tower mentality of the university. The Centre’s knowledge exchange projects are subject to an innovative, artist designed partnership agreement which is a thing of beauty and like nothing else I’ve ever seen. It really exemplifies the idea that the medium is the message.
Thank you to Alex Rajinder Mason and his co-directors for their support , to the PGRs and community partners for their candour and to Rose Farrar who supported me in completing this piece of work.