Michelle Swallow, English Lecturer and Learning Quality Manager at Bradford College, explores the gathering of momentum in equality, diversity and inclusion, and explores some of the issues that must be grappled with if organisations are to be transformed into truly inclusive settings.
The terms equality, diversity and inclusivity seem to have gathered momentum over the last few years. I’ve lost count of the number of books, blogs, and articles I’ve seen exploring these issues and grappling with how to transform organisations into truly inclusive settings.
Most businesses now seem to have an EDI lead, where several years ago they may not have even have had a basic understanding of what the term truly means. The same is true in the world of further education. There appears to be a genuine appetite to improve in this area and a commitment to do so.
I would argue that a truly inclusive environment is absolutely essential in education, including colleges, to allow every staff member and every student to not only feel comfortable, but to thrive. But what does an inclusive learning community look like and how do we achieve it?
