Launch of YARN workshop series "Decolonizing the Classroom"

We would like to invite you to the Young Arts Network's new 2021-2022 pedagogical workshop series: Decolonising the Classroom.

One of the current buzzwords in academia is the verb “to decolonise”. Lately, it has often been used vaguely in all sorts of contexts to gesture towards any form of dismantling and resistance.

This workshop series aims to push past the jargon to clearly define what decolonisation means, placing the term in its historical and geopolitical context, and to concretely address why decolonial practices are vital for the future of our institutions.

Through these workshops led by experienced university educators, we will clarify what exactly is meant when academics are asked to decolonise their teaching practices. We will equip you with resources and tools to take on this important work. And most importantly, we will use this series to connect you with a community of fellow colleagues at the RuG who are also dedicated to transforming their pedagogy in service of a more equitable and just planet.

22 June: Launch of the series with a roundtable discussion

The YARN diversity, equity and inclusion taskforce will introduce the series, define our terms, and begin the discussion on why this series is important for us at UG. We also want to hear from you about your experiences in the classroom and what you’d like to learn from this series.

Recommended Reading: “Decolonisation is not a metaphor” by Eve Tuck & K. Wayne Yang

All participants will receive a little surprise in the mail, and workshop attendees have the opportunity to win a copy of Gloria Wekker’s White Innocence.

Academic year 2021-2022: workshop series

We will host workshops on topics such as decolonising your syllabi and creating “brave spaces” in the classroom. Exact dates, titles, and speakers to be announced in autumn 2021.

• Workshop 1: Exam weeks between block 1 & block 2
• Workshop 2: Exam weeks between block 2 & block 3
• Workshop 3: Exam weeks between block 3 & block 4
• Workshop 4: Exam weeks after block 4