Events, activities and initiatives
The University has hosted a number of events during 2023-24 to raise awareness of a wide range of equality and diversity perspectives.
The majority of events hosted by the University were open to students and staff, many also encouraged participation from the public. Some events were initiated by the focus groups or by individual Schools and departments, and others were joint initiatives mutually benefitting the University and local support organisations. These events developed greater awareness and understanding of difference and provided opportunities for staff, students and the public to learn about different cultures, religions and backgrounds.
Intersectionality
Intersectional Wellbeing Pride
Our staff focus groups joined forces to organise an Intersectional Wellbeing Pride event.
The Intersectional Wellbeing Pride helped staff and students to learn more about each other and to build an inclusive campus and community.
The event included workshops, performances, stalls from charities, local businesses and organisations, and a LGBTQ+ history walk. There were also performances from singers, artists, and poets, along with wellbeing sessions in relaxation techniques and gentle exercises for reducing anxiety and stress.
National Day for Staff Networks
Teesside University hosted the Tees Valley Equality & Diversity Staff Network event which marked National Day for Staff Networks.
The event was attended by Cleveland Police, Cleveland Fire Brigade, Middlesbrough College, Middlesbrough Council, and other organisations.
At the event the University presented the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion infrastructure, the importance of our staff focus groups and how they play a significant part of University business. External organisations also shared how they have developed their own focus groups. The event enabled our staff focus groups to share best practice and inspire other organisations.
Ethnic and cultural diversity
Supporting Middlesbrough Mela
As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, Teesside University sponsored the Middlesbrough Mela. The North East's biggest festival is a family-friendly event that included a wide range of fantastic food products, a market bazaar, arts and crafts, street performers, sports, games, musicians, and more.
The Mela brings people and communities together to celebrate the rich diversity of cultures within our region. Colleagues from our Human Resources and Student Recruitment and Marketing teams hosted a University stand.
Celebrating Black History Month
Black History Month provides an opportunity for the University to share and understand the impact of black heritage and culture in our region and beyond.
MIMA co-ordinated a range of activities in recognition of the achievements of black people across the UK and around the world. These include an eclectic compilation of learning points gathered over the past year, titled 23 for 23, and creative reading lists.
Black History Youth Awards
The University sponsored the Black History Youth Awards. The University also supported Miss Black History: More Than The Face, a new project created to empower young women of black origin and to elevate their voices and creative ambitions.
Awards recognition for Teesside University academic
Dr Safwan Akram was honoured at the Asian Business Connexions Awards 2023. The annual awards recognise the outstanding achievements of the Asian community and celebrate excellence, unity and inclusion.
The awards aim to help address inequality and promote community cohesion and access from the Asian community to existing business support programmes.
Dr Akram, who is Professor at the University's National Horizons Centre, was recognised as winner in the Health and Life Science category of the awards.
Celebrating South Asian Heritage
A special event celebrating South Asian culture was held for colleagues and students to celebrate South Asian Heritage month.
Organised by members of our Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Focus Group, activities included an Indian classical dance, a musical and traditional Indian board games. Concept art student Taejusvin Sashita created and displayed a digital mandala.
BME Equality Award
The University won the Public Sector Award at the Tees Valley BME Achievement Awards for its continued work to help ensure equality and inclusion becomes embedded every day for colleagues and students.
Ensuring culturally responsive doctoral supervision
A network Pro:NE made up of five leading Universities, Teesside, Durham, Sunderland, Newcastle and Northumbria, aims to tackle inequalities in higher education by building a sense of community and promoting inclusion.
Pro:NE hosted workshops on Culturally Responsive Doctoral Supervision. The event was led by Dr Judith Eberhardt, from the School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law, and Dr Jonathan Ling, a former Professor of Public Health at the University of Sunderland.
Topics covered the complexities of navigating diversity and identifying common challenges faced by racially minoritised ethnic students.
Cultural Ambassadors Scheme
Middlesbrough Council launched the Cultural Ambassadors Scheme to help the creative sector continue to plan and deliver outstanding events across the town. Teesside University are ambassadors of this scheme alongside Holiday Inn Express, Leonardo Hotel, and Stagecoach North East.
A number of events and festivals have taken place under the scheme which have entertained more than a quarter of a million people. The town's cultural scene is getting stronger with the support of the four key ambassadors.
South African partnerships
Teesside University's dedication to global sustainability initiatives has been further enhanced following a trade mission to South Africa which resulted in a new research and teaching partnership.
The latest mission to South Africa, which was co-led by Teesside Taskforce Chair Professor Michael Henson and Vice-Chair Professor Stephen Cummings, marks the seventh expedition facilitated by this partnership.
International Day of Yoga
University staff and students came together at Teesside University for a day of peace and wellness, organised in collaboration with the Consulate General of India, Birmingham led by Devika Rao. The yoga movement sessions were suitable for all abilities and focused on connecting with nature through gestures and asanas, incorporating rhythmic breathing and moving techniques based on traditional Indian dance. The session included quotes and guided meditation, followed by 15 minutes of Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar) and a special performance celebrating the Sun.
Anti Racism Educational Workshops
The Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Focus group promotes racial equality and equity throughout our institution. One of the key areas of focus is to develop anti racism educational workshops for staff. To enhance the implementation of this project, the staff focus group adopted a school-based approach starting with school management.
Teesside University International Business School has been selected as the pilot school due to its high density of members of staff from global majority background and its large percentage of international students. A facet of this project is to encourage difficult educational conversations, around terminology, race, work, its challenges, Whiteness, privilege and fragility, racial trauma and more-normalising and educating compassionately around complex concepts, terms and language.
Disability
Disability Pride Month
Our campus was lit up to mark the start of Disability Pride Month. We proudly celebrate the fact that we are all different and we are all equal. During the month we took the opportunity to raise awareness of disabilities, start positive conversations and celebrate the diversity and differences.
Understanding neurodiversity
Managers attended training sessions to learn more about neurodiversity in the workplace and other mental health challenges. Hosted by our occupational health team, the session helped line managers to support neurodiverse employees and identify any reasonable adjustments that may be required to help them reach their potential.
Events during Neurodiversity Celebration Week included webinar sessions on key neurodiversity topics hosted by speakers from Daisy Chain and Posturite.
Visibly Better Employer
Teesside has been awarded the prestigious Visibly Better Employer accreditation by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) in recognition of our efforts to improve accessibility for blind and partially sighted people.
To gain the accreditation, we demonstrated that our working practices met the RNIB's Visibly Better Employer quality standard. This includes developing inclusive recruitment tools such as assisted technology and software to help colleagues and students who are visually impaired. This recognition reflects the excellent work that has been done across the organisation to improve accessibility for visually impaired applicants, students, and colleagues.
Putting our health and wellbeing first
Colleagues were invited to take part in a series of activities and events to mark this year's University Mental Health Day and Neurodiversity Celebration Week.
On University Mental Health Day, Teesside Mind showcased the support they offer and there was also the opportunity to find out about the support available through our Employee Assistance Programme and our University Mental Health Champions and Peer Supporter networks. Colleagues also took part in Mindful Movement sessions.
Celebrating and supporting colleagues with disabilities
To celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a range of activities took place and information was available to raise awareness of all disabilities, both visible and hidden. Such activities included:
- Disability Matters met members of our focus group
- Blackboard Ally workshops - learn how to improve the accessibility of your module content and the automatically generated alternative formats available.
- Additional workshops on Supporting Autism in Higher Education, Disability Support, and Inclusive Learning and Teaching Practices.
Listen to Lisette
Teesside graduate author Lisette Auton talked about her career and life as a disabled and neurodivergent 'word artist'.
Awards recognition for disability artist
The School of Arts & Creative Industries academic, Professor McKeown, who is known for his work in relation to disability, has been shortlisted for the 2024 National Diversity Awards.
The nomination honours Professor McKeown's work, which includes Cork Ignite, a major outdoor commission which combined digital technology and disability ethos and culture, along with Invalid Carriage Register, which celebrated the heritage of disability mobility.
Dispelling myths about HIV and AIDS
Colleagues attended a talk by a representative from The Terrence Higgins Trust on HIV and AIDS to help improve awareness and reduce stigmas associated with the conditions. The talk follows our Positive Allies accreditation earlier this year, which recognises the work we are doing as a University to actively tackle HIV-related prejudice.
Gender
The One Fifteen at MIMA
Staff and students joined Dr Pippa Oldfield as she talked about her current research into the lives and work of the first women war photographers at one of our One Fifteen lunchtime talks.
Celebrating International Women's Day
The theme for International Women's Day 2024 was Inspire Inclusion. Numerous events took place to celebrate women's achievements, raise awareness about discrimination, and take action to drive gender equality.
Global recognition for promoting gender equality
Teesside's commitment to gender equality has been recognised with a prestigious global accreditation.
Our University has received the Athena Swan Bronze award for our work to eliminate gender bias and embed an inclusive culture that values all colleagues equally.
The award promotes a commitment to advancing the careers of people of all gender identities in all academic disciplines, as well as those in professional, managerial and support roles in higher education and research.
Building on this success, the University hosted the first annual Athena Swan Town Hall event. The aim is to discuss our progress in championing gender equality across the University.
Women in the spotlight
Teesside University joined the Northern Health Science Alliance and Dr Nasima Akhter from the School of Health & Life Sciences has been featured in the Alliance's North Innovation Women Campaign. The campaign highlights women that have made remarkable feats in their chosen sector, to help inspire others to nominate women as part of the campaign.
AndysManClub
The Postgraduate Society and the Gender Focus Group held an event with men's suicide prevention charity AndysManClub. The event focused on how to end the stigma surrounding men's mental health and help men through the power of conversation.
Welcoming our first female Chancellor
Colleagues, students and civic representatives from across the Tees Valley came together to witness the formal installation of Baroness Jenny Chapman of Darlington as the University's first female Chancellor in a special ceremony.
Baroness Chapman, a prominent campaigner for social mobility and the positive impact of quality higher education is looking forward to supporting the University's mission to transform lives and economies.
Faith and belief
Team Teesside festive celebrations
Team Teesside got into the festive spirit and celebrated the end of another successful year, with a Christmas mosaic workshop, a festive marketplace selling a range of handmade cards, gifts and decorations, and a carol concert by VOX Choir.
Festival Teesside
This took place in the Salvation Army Middlesbrough Citadel, which included a community choir involving University students. The festival was a great success and encouraged students to get involved in local community and church groups, showcasing the benefits of faith community in the local area.
Shared Iftar
The University's first Shared Iftar took place this year. All colleagues and students were invited to attend a Shared Iftar. Over 80 members of staff and colleagues attended. Feedback showed that staff and students found the Iftar to be inclusive and uplifting, with one student commenting that the event had given her a warm feeling of being included and recognised.
Ramadan football
Teesside Sport and MFC Foundation hosted weekly evening football sessions during Ramadan. As the world's most popular sport, football brought a unique power to unite people from diverse backgrounds.
Wesak
Middlesbrough Tower was illuminated in vibrant hues of blue, yellow, red, white, and orange, in honour of Wesak - a significant festival in the Buddhist calendar.
Here I Am Meetups
Here I Am is a network that has been set up by Christians working on the Here East campus. Here I Am meets fortnightly and both believers and seekers are welcome.
Prayer facilities on campus
The University expanded the prayer facilities open to staff and students during 2023/24, with the addition of a multi-faith prayer room in the newly opened Bios building, as well as making the wellbeing room in the Library available for prayer where possible. This is in addition to the dedicated male and female prayer rooms in Education House.
Focus on Faith Series
The University ran its first Focus on Faith Series in 2023/24, highlighting different festivals for the faith communities on our campus. This included highlighting Ramadan, Holi, Ash Wednesday and Wesak.
Holi Festival
Students in our Indian Society brought colour and joy to our Middlesbrough campus for the Hindu festival of Holi supported by the Faith and Belief Focus Group. There were stands in the Library and Student Life building to encourage students to find out more about the festival of colour that celebrates spring, love, and new life.
Faith and belief presence on campus (therapy dog)
The University continued the popular Fridays with Faith adviser Naomi Kelly, who attends the Student Life building with her therapy dog, Brengle, to chat with students about anything concerning them, or just to have a friendly conversation. Both Naomi and Brengle remain popular with staff and students and their presence in Student Life is warmly received.
LGBTQ+
Inclusive language matters
Staff and students can add their pronouns on their Teams account and University email signature. Sharing gender pronouns at work can help transgender and non-binary colleagues feel acknowledged.
Transgender Day of Remembrance
To mark Transgender Day of Remembrance, a presentation commemorating trans people who have lost their lives to hate crime was played on the big screen.
This was followed by a wellbeing walk offering people a chance to check in with each other and show their allyship. Campus Heart and Middlesbrough Tower was also lit up in pink, blue and white lights.
Other events that took place during Transgender Awareness Week included a book club and reading by author and alumnus Mike Nelson, an online talk with author Edward Whelan, and a performance and Q&A with trans activist and performer Clare Sheperia.
World AIDS Day
The Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) and the LGBTQ+ Focus Group hosted a general knowledge quiz, followed by a Q&A on HIV or AIDS. Staff and students showed their support by wearing something red on the day and making a small donation.
Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month
The University ran a competition for a staff and students to write a creative piece around what society would look like if section 28 had never existed. A thought-provoking and moving poem by student nurse Mac McClelland has been chosen as the winner. The competition was supported with a creative writing workshop facilitated by the LGBTQ+ co-chair.
Following the theme of the competition, a video of staff, students, alumni and collaborators wrote or spoke about their own personal experiences under section 28.
LGBT Alliance Awards
Our University's efforts to support LGBTQ+ colleagues and students have been recognised with a prestigious local inclusion award. We received the Hart Gables LGBT Alliance award for Providing a Safer Learning Environment 2024 and were a finalist for Creating LGBT Inclusion and Accessibility in the Workplace.
Rainbow office hours
Rainbow office hours is a new initiative where LGBTQ+ staff are available for drop-in sessions, offering a unique opportunity to promote visibility and foster a supportive community within our University.
The informal drop-in sessions offer anyone, whether LGBTQ+ or an ally, to stop by, grab a free tea or coffee, chat, ask questions, raise issues, or simply say hello.
Top Ten Stonewall
Teesside University has achieved Gold, which is the highest award, and ranked 8th in the Stonewall Top 100 Employers for 2024.
The University's commitment to equality and diversity has been recognised in the influential annual Stonewall UK Workplace Equality Index (WEI).
This year, 246 organisations made a submission, with Stonewall's top 100 UK employers recognised for their outstanding efforts in creating an inclusive workplace for their LGBT+ employees.
The award reflects the work which continues to be done at the University to provide an inclusive environment, champion equality and celebrate diversity.
Stonewall Workplace Equality Index Results
