About us
The EDI education group consists of staff, students and external members who are working together in partnership to raise awareness and support for students belonging to minority groups or to communities with protected characteristics. As a group we aim to work collectively to develop, implement and deliver EDI initiatives to support and educate all students and staff in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton.
Our membership currently includes academic and clinical staff from across the Faculty, University and NHS hospital trusts. Student membership includes the co-chairs of the EDI subcommittees which are: Neurodiversity, disability and long-term conditions, gender equality and LGBTQ+, mental health, race and ethnicity and Awarding and attainment gap.
Aims of the group
1. Create a more inclusive learning and working environment within the Faculty of Medicine
2. To raise awareness of issues around diversity and the different experiences and perceptions of staff and students
3. To embolden the Faculty to clearly communicate its stance of support for students from all minority backgrounds and to develop a clear strategy and action plan to embed this stance in Faculty processes and actions.
4. Reduce differential attainment for students from minority backgrounds
5. To provide access to EDI training for staff and students
6. To create safe opportunities for students and staff to share their stories and have challenging conversations around discrimination and discomfort
Our way of working
We hold regular meetings throughout the year to discuss all matters relating to EDI in education and also to support ongoing project work. Through our knowledge, expertise and collective lived experience we advise and support the Faculty education strategy, the Faculty EDI board, and university’s EDI strategy.
As a group it is important that our meetings:
– Are a safe and creative spaceĀ and a place to safely share previous and changing behaviours without judgementĀ
– Enable members to discuss matters appropriately: not to cast blame but instead to find a mid-ground between blame and being too nice/not acknowledging problemsĀ
– Are confidential regarding personal discussionsĀ
– Allow us to be able to be comfortable in being uncomfortableĀ
– Are a place where itās okay not to understand and safe to enquire and learn from othersĀ
– Acknowledge the fear of speaking up, especially for students, and how this may impact upon the group dynamicsĀ
– Acknowledge the power differential between staff and students
About this website
The purpose of this website is to showcase the work of this group, share resources and engage with the wider community of students and staff.
Accessibility
If you need information on this website in a different format in order to make it accessible to you, please contact us via email. We will consider your request and get back to you in five working days.
Come and join us
For staff interested in finding out more please contact Professor Sally Curtis – s.a.curtis@soton.ac.uk or Professor Kathy Kendall – k.a.kendall@soton.ac.uk
For students interested in finding out more please contact Samantha Mills – scm1g17@soton.ac.uk