Developing a community and decolonising the curriculum

1) Decolonising the Curriculum

LDC is critically assessing its curriculum and classroom practices, with the intention of decolonising its taught programmes. The school has established a ‘Decolonising the Curriculum Working Party’ over the past year, where students and staff discuss and reflect on the culture, community and academic practices within LDC, and how to make the academic experience positive and identityaffirming for everyone. As an Ambassador, you would join this working party and work with staff in the school on reviewing their modules, to develop a more inclusive educational experience that reflects the diversity and plurality of voices.

2) Developing a BIPOC Student Safe Space

Over the past academic year, Dr Claire Hynes has been working with a group of BIPOC students to understand their experience and identify areas where the school could improve. One idea that has been implemented is introducing a BIPOC safe space: a drop-in for BIPOC students to share experiences and build a community in a supportive environment.

Please read through the Job Description and Person Specification below. If you feel you are the right person for this important position, we would welcome an application from you:

Job Description and Person Specification:

The Union of UEA Students

We’re the heart of student life at UEA:

We’re right in the middle of campus

We’re full of life, energy, passion and emotion

We love UEA (it’s wonderful), but we want UEA to be better

We’re an autonomous, integral part of UEA:

University = Head | Union = Heart

University = Traditional | Union = Radical

University = Formal| Union = Informal

Our Purpose: The Big Idea That Shapes Us

We’re about students - transforming

• We are students learning and developing through opportunities to do things

• We are Union, run by students, and we change every year as students change

• We are students changing our course, our community and our world

What we are

• We’re a charity - any money we make is spent on students

• We’re a mutual co-operative - we’re run by students for students

• We’re an independent part of the university- always on students’ side

What we do

Advocacy: “We’ve got your back”

• We represent and campaign to give students power over their education

• We help students to help other students

• We sort (and prevent) students’ problems with help, advice and support

Opportunities: “Beyond your degree”

• The best range of student sports and societies in the UK, no argument

• Opportunities to learn skills, make friends and become more employable

• Student employment that’s fun, well paid and transformative

Enterprise: “We own this”

• Student bars and lounges - where everybody knows your name

Live!

• Safe, great value nights out with friends for life

• The best, most diverse SU live music programme in the UK

• Supported student run events where you and your mates shine

Department: Advice and Representation

Reports To: Lucy Harris-Sandstrom

Salary: £9 with potential variations

Contract: Student, Part-Time

Purpose of post:

At uea(su) we’re working with UEA to tackle the degree awarding gap that continues to affect students from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. We are looking to recruit paid Students of Colour Ambassadors, to make sure the lived experience of students of colour is at the centre of efforts to close the degree awarding gap.

This post will play an important role in ensuring that all of this and more can continue to thrive, providing students with a fun, value-adding and engaging student experience.

Student of Colour Ambassador

Key responsibilities

• To work on the allocated themes for each semester:
  • February to April- Collaboration across Schools and Learning: Working with Students of Colour Ambassadors from other schools and focusing on current Higher Education issues impacting students of colour.
  • April to July- Celebration, Legacy and Evaluation: End of year celebration with Students of Colour Ambassadors and the networks built through the scheme. A time to evaluate what went well, what could be improved in your role and across the whole scheme.
• To work on projects focused on closing the degree awarding gap for Black, Asian and minority ethnic students and create key performance indicators to measure impact with School Lead
• To work collaboratively with students and staff across the university on these projects, conducting research, organising, and running events
• Develop, promote, attend and evaluate events designed to build a sense of community amongst students of colour at UEA
• To deliver at least two activities each semester aligned with the theme
• To attend training to gain a better understanding of the scheme, its importance, and tips
• To attend regular uea(su), school and university level meetings
• Where relevant, to speak at conferences and training sessions about the role
• Support the marketing of the project and upload appropriate content onto social media
• To contribute a minimum of 1 blog article on the impact of the work taking place
• To attend monthly catch-up meetings with your main support and other ambassadors
• To maintain a detailed work log outlining your hours worked and tasks performed which is to be submitted once a month
• Undertake other duties as required by your key staff support

Person Specification

Candidates for the job will be assessed in the following ways;

• A Application Form
• I Interview
• T Test

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

This is a list of the qualities and attributes we like ambassadors to hold, but we can offer training and support if you need development in these areas. The person specification is split into essential and desirable attributes. You should consider that we’ll look to test these across both application and the selection event.

Knowledge & Experience	Essential or Desirable?	How Measured?
A current UEA student, studying in either LDC, AMA, HSC, BIO, CMP, PHA, DEV, MED and LAW	E	A/I
Understanding and commitment to equal opportunities	E	A/I
Experience of collecting and evaluating information and reporting findings	D	A
Experience of developing and monitoring events or projects	D	A/I
Experience of building networks for underrepresented groups	D	A
Skills
Ability to prioritise according to workload and changing circumstances	E	A/I
Ability to build trusting relationships with students of colour	E	A/I
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills	E	A/I
Strong organisational skills	E	A/I
Ability to work sensitively with different people’s needs	E	A/I
Ability to motivate and inspire others	E	A/I

Changes to Job Description:

This job description may be subject to modification or amendment at any time after consultation with the post holder.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of the procedures and tasks carried out by the post holder. It does however set out the main expectations of the Union in relation to the post holder’s duties and responsibilities.

It does not form part of the contract of employment.

February 2024