Decolonising the Curriculum Steering Group

Ruth Taylor

Chair: Vice Principal (Education)

Professor Ruth Taylor is Vice-Principal for Education, Institutional Lead for Race Equality, and Chair of the Decolonising and Enhancing the Curriculum Steering Group.

“I am delighted and excited to be working on this project with a fantastic steering group. We are aiming to develop a set of resources to support colleagues across the university as they consider ways in which they can decolonise the curriculum. The Group will communicate, consult and collaborate with students, colleagues and the wider sector as we take the work forward.

Katerina Vilemova

Postgraduate Intern

Katerina is a student of MRes in Social Anthropology and a postgraduate intern for the Decolonising the Curriculum Steering Group.

“I was delighted when I learned I got the opportunity to be part of the steering group. The work on the project will be definitely challenging, but at the same time, I am very proud to be able to contribute to such an important task”.

Ondrej Kucerak

Vice-President for Education, AUSA

Ondrej is Vice-President for Education at AUSA, Student Lead for the Enhancement Theme in Scotland, and member of the Decolonising the Curriculum Steering Group.

“This is very exciting time as we explore what our education is truly like, what concepts do we teach and re-examine our teaching methods. It is a great opportunity to co-create inclusive curriculum that reflects the modern composition of our staff and students. Many of our colleagues are extremely enthusiastic about this work and I cannot wait to see the changes we will achieve together.”

Camilo Torres-Barragan

Vice-President for Communities, AUSA

Camilo Torres Barragán is the first Latin American to be elected Vice-President for communities at the Aberdeen University Students’ Union.

“Decolonising the curriculum is in danger of becoming just a catchphrase that is thrown around a lot by universities and we don’t want this to be the case in Aberdeen. More than a slogan, it is a complex, challenging process that needs to have racialised people at its core and by definition it includes transferring decisions, responsibilities and resources to them. It means changes in the way things are done across the board and I see the potential for that in this project”

Sofia Puenetes Ferreira

School Student Representative

Sofía Puentes Ferreira is a 4th year student of Economics and International relations at the University of Aberdeen.

“I am thrilled to be part of the Decolonising the Curriculum Steering Group. I moved to Aberdeen from Colombia and have seen the need of such group across higher education in the United Kingdom, therefore I am delighted with this Initiative set by the university”

Abbe Brown

Dean for Student Support

Abbe Brown is Professor in Intellectual Property Law and the Dean for Student Support.

In her teaching, research and leadership roles Abbe is committed to bridging divides and to delivering  fairer and workable outcomes, which frequently involves disrupting established norms and structures. Abbe is at the start of her Decolonising the Curriculum journey and she looks forward to learning and contributing.  

Kirsty Kiezebrink

Deputy Chair, Dean for Educational Innovation

Dr Kirsty Kiezebrink is Dean for Educational Innovation

“ I am really looking forward to working with all members of the Aberdeen University family as we create spaces and resources to enable  conversation to develop a curriculum and University culture which incorporates and celebrates all cultures and knowledge systems.”

Vacant

Dean for Quality Assurance and Enhancement

Anne Michelle Slater

Dean of Portfolio Development and Programme Promotion

Professor Anne-Michelle Slater is a specialist in planning law: terrestrial and marine and an expert in legal and policy research and interpretation. In the Law School, she  is the lead for Athena SWAN and a member of the EDI committee. Anne-Michelle is also the Dean for Portfolio Development and Programme Promotion and  sits on this group because of that role. 

Ritu Vij

Convenor of the Race Equality Network

Ritu Vij is Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations in the School of Social Science and serves as Co-Chair of the Staff Race Equality Network (REN).

“REN engages colleagues across the university in difficult conversations about the modes of exclusions that structure our disciplinary practices and everyday interactions. Its principal aim is to deepen the ongoing institutional work of promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion on campus. The network is especially invested in working with staff and students to address the key political and practical challenges of decolonizing the episteme, i.e. identifying the legacies of empire and colonization in what counts as generalizable knowledge”.

Vanessa Mabonso Nzolo

Representative of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Students Forum 

Vanessa Mabonso Nzolo is a 4th year undergraduate student of Anthropology and International Relations, convenor for The Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Students’ Forum at AUSA, and project lead for the Decolonise Anthropology Student Team.

“As a student-activist, I am happy to join forces with the Steering Group to offer fresh and innovative perspective into the work of our institution. I hope to work as a channel of communication between students and the Group, and work actively towards the realization of projects we need together as a community.”

Nurah Niazy 

Representative of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Students Forum 

Nurah Niazy is a 4th-year Geography and International Relations student and is a member of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Students’ Forum.

“As a member of the BAME Forum, I am excited to be a part of the Decolonising the Curriculum Steering Group. We will ensure that the concerns and interests of BAME students are made visible. Through initiatives, proposals, and collaborative efforts, we hope to represent student voices as we decolonise the curriculum.”

Ana Payo-Payo

School of Biological Sciences

Dr Ana Payo Payo is a research fellow in animal ecology at the School of Biological Sciences. 

“I strive to achieve a more diverse and inclusive academic environment. That is why I dedicate myself to listen to those in less privileged positions and to use the platforms I have access to promote and catalyse the change they want to see in the system."

Mark Whittington

Business School

Mark Whittington is a senior lecturer in Accountancy and Finance with a focus on accountability (“holding to account”) beyond the purely financial.

Mark has been involved with developing partnerships  and programmes with international partners for many years. His concern is that all voices can be heard with respect and each culture seen relevant to the discussion. In accounting, the adoption of “International Accounting Standards” might be seen as continuing colonialism and wiping away previous accountability approaches developed over centuries as being no longer valid or needed.

Cheryl Dowie

Business School

Dr Cheryl Dowie is a Lecturer/Assistant Professor at the University of Aberdeen Business School.

She co-leads the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committee for the Business School. Cheryl’s primary areas of research interest are in negotiations/conflict resolution, group decision-making, pedagogy, corporate communication, and cross-cultural management. Her secondary areas of research interest are in gender issues, entrepreneurship, and internationalisation strategies in higher education. Her interests in studying pedagogy and internationalisation strategies, motivates her to learn and understand more about how to enrich knowledge production, reflect on educational inclusivity, and improve discourse among post-secondary students. Furthermore, her desire to evolve into a compassionate and empathetic educator and create an inclusive learning environment for all students, urges her to participate and contribute to this steering group.

Richard Anderson

School of Divinity, History, Philosophy and Art History

Dr Richard Anderson joined the University of Aberdeen in 2020 as Lecturer in the History of Slavery. He researches and teaches the history of Africa and the African Diaspora and is undertaking a two-year study of the legacy of slavery to the University of Aberdeen.

“As a historian of slavery and empire, I am energised and encouraged by the work of the steering group in leading important discussions on how to decolonise teaching and knowledge production within an ancient Scottish university.”

Liz Curtis

School of Education

Dr Liz Curtis is a lecturer in the School of Education and a member of the Decolonising the Curriculum Steering Group.

‘It is a privilege to be part of this group, to learn from the experiences and work of colleagues and to make a contribution to the development of ways in which we can all work towards consciously decolonised curricula across the University.’

Israel Osofero

School of Engineering

Dr Israel Osofero is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Engineering. He is also the Race Equality Champion for the School and a member of the Decolonising the Curriculum Steering Group.

“I am excited about the focus of this group, which is to support colleagues as they consider how to decolonise the curriculum. I look forward to working with colleagues across different disciplines at the University, but particularly with colleagues at the School of Engineering as we consider ways to decolonise the engineering curriculum.”

Josh Wright

School of Geosciences

Dr Joshua Wright is a lecturer in Chinese Archaeology in the department of Archaeology and Director of Education for the school of Geoscience.

Josh holds his Ph.D. in Anthropology and has a range of experience working with diverse and international curricula covering Asia, indigeneity, heritage and representation, and materiality.  Here at Aberdeen he teaches at all levels of the undergraduate programme.

Liz Elliott

School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture

Dr Elizabeth Elliott is a senior lecturer in English and lead on the Decolonising the Curriculum steering group for the School of Literatures, Languages, Music & Visual Culture.

“My role as LLMVC representative on the Decolonising the Curriculum steering group builds on work within my courses in English, which responds to the challenge levelled by Dr Dorothy Kim at white medievalists like me: ‘How are you signalling in your classroom that you are not upholding white supremacy when you are teaching the subject loved by white supremacists?’ These courses include Queer Times, developed with Professor Tim Baker, which addresses the historical construction of gender and sexuality and their relationship to colonisation. As a white cis scholar, employed within a sector that still has much work to do to address structural racism and the impact of inequitable frameworks in reproducing inequalities, I am conscious that I still have a lot to learn.”

Titilayo Adebola

School of Law

Dr Titilayo Adebola is the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead at the School of Law and a member of the Decolonising the Curriculum Steering Group.

“I am pleased to be working on this project with a brilliant steering group. The steering group seeks to formulate resources to support colleagues across the university as we explore effective avenues to decolonise the curriculum. The resources will be the outcome of intentional consultations and collaborations with students and colleagues.”

Jason Bohan

School of Psychology

Dr Jason Bohan, is Director of Education for the School of Psychology, and School representative on the Decolonising the Curriculum Steering Group.

“We have a very diverse student and staff academic community and I strongly believe that everyone should feel welcome and included.  I am very excited to be working on this project and looking at ways we can address these issues.”

Ching-Wa Chung

School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition

Dr Ching-wa Chung is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Medicine, Medical Science and Nutrition.  He is Lead for Admissions for MBChB, PA and G2M and deputy lead for assessments for Healthcare programmes.

“It has been a journey to learn and work on Decolonising the Curriculum. It is a pleasure to contribute to the important work of exploring the effects of Colonisation on our students’ education.  I think we can both learn from the work that is already been done, and support our colleagues and students in further work. I am looking forward to what will develop.

Nigel Beacham

School of Natural and Computing Sciences

Dr. Nigel Beacham is Director of UG Pathways for Computing Science, Pedagogical Research Board Member for the Physical Sciences & Engineering Ethics Board, and Convener for the NCS School Education Committee.

Ritu Vij

School of Social Science

Ritu Vij is Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations in the School of Social Science and serves as Co-Chair of the Staff Race Equality Network (REN).

“REN engages colleagues across the university in difficult conversations about the modes of exclusions that structure our disciplinary practices and everyday interactions. Its principal aim is to deepen the ongoing institutional work of promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion on campus. The network is especially invested in working with staff and students to address the key political and practical challenges of decolonizing the episteme, i.e. identifying the legacies of empire and colonization in what counts as generalizable knowledge”.

Gillian Mackintosh

Director of Academic Services and Online Education

Dr Gillian Mackintosh is Director of Academic Services & Online Education.

“This is a hugely important project for the University and I am delighted to be a member of the steering group leading this work.  I look forward to helping to develop guidance, training and resources to support colleagues in their work to decolonise the curriculum.”

Rachael Bernard

Academic Registrar

Darren Comber

Representative for the Centre for Academic Development

Aaron Thom

Representative for the Centre for Academic Development

Dr Aaron Thom is Educational Development Adviser within the Centre for Academic Development. Aaron gained his MA, MLitt and PhD from the University of Aberdeen; his doctoral dissertation was supervised by John Gash. Aaron’s specialism is seventeenth-century Italian art, in particular Caravaggio and his followers. Now coordinator of Principals of Learning & Teaching and the PGCert course Activities, Knowledge & Values he said:

“I’m excited to work on this bold project, not least because of my academic background, but because of the interdisciplinary work I am currently engaged in. I work with PhD students and staff across the University, so I am interested in current pedagogical imperatives in higher education.”

Simon Bains

University Librarian

Simon Bains is University Librarian and Head of Library Services.

The University Library has a vital role in supporting changes being made to the curriculum and a wider responsibility to ensure that its collections properly represent our commitment to inclusivity and diversity. I am absolutely committed to this responsibility, and really pleased to be able to contribute to the work of the Steering Group. I welcome suggestions for new titles for our collections to promote a wider understanding of decolonisation issues.

Morag MacRae

Clerk