Contributors
- D. Theresa Nicholson
- Fiona C. Saunders
Educational affiliation
Manchester Metropolitan University
VIDEO: Decolonising the STEM Curriculum Online Toolkit [6:24]
Abstract
Decolonising curricula is about addressing disadvantage and inequality associated with racism and the legacy of colonialism. Decolonising benefits individuals, HEIs, and society, and can contribute to closing award gaps. This project aimed to create easily accessible guidance and resources to support academic staff in decolonising their curricula. A review of literature and online resources established conceptual boundaries and highlighted good practice. Comprehensive guidance structured around curriculum design, delivery, and content was developed, and this contextualises decolonising against related EDI concepts. An over-arching toolkit provides an extensive bank of resources with FAQs, commentaries, reference articles, and a section dedicated to STEM disciplines. The toolkit includes a section with multiple perspectives on decolonising from students, student leaders, and academic staff, in the form of written and video narratives and published articles. The Decolonising the STEM Curriculum Online Toolkit offers comprehensive support for staff development and enables decolonising of HE curricula to be prioritised.
References (including those used in video)
Beauchamp, Z. (2015). 500 Years of European Colonialism in one Animated Map. Online at: https://www.vox.com/2014/5/8/5691954/colonialism-collapse-gif-imperialism
Liyanage, M. (2020). Miseducation: Decolonising Curricula, Culture and Pedagogy in UK Universities. Higher Education Policy Institute Debate Paper 23, HEPI, Oxford 64pp. Online at: https://www.hepi.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/HEPI_Miseducation_Debate-Paper-23_FINAL.pdf
Manchester Met (Science and Engineering) (2022). Decolonising the Curriculum Toolkit (only available internally via SharePoint): https://stummuac.sharepoint.com/sites/pro-se-sciandeng/SitePages/Decolonising-Curriculum.aspx
Manchester Metropolitan University (2022). Decolonising the Curriculum Toolkit. Online at: https://www.mmu.ac.uk/about-us/professional-services/uta/reducing-awarding-gaps/decolonising-the-curriculum-toolkit
McMaster, N. C. (2021). Ethnicity Awarding Gaps in UK Higher Education in 2019-20. AdvanceHE: York. Online at: https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/knowledge-hub/ethnicity-awarding-gaps-uk-higher-education-201920
Nicholson, D. T., Saunders, F. C., Jones, D. and Greenwood, A. (2022). Decolonising higher education curricula: Authentic guiding narratives from academic and learner communities. In: Proceedings European Conference of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Manchester Metropolitan University 15-17 June 2022, p137-148. Online: https://utaresources.mmu.ac.uk/euro_sotl/Proceeding%20Papers.pdf
Universities UK and NUS (2019). Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Student Attainment at UK Universities: Closing The Gap. Universities UK and National Union of Students: London. Online at: https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/sites/default/files/field/downloads/2021-07/bame-student-attainment.pdf