On May 11th and 12th, the Democratic Education Network (DEN) held enlightening conferences. This was a day after another conference on ‘Anti Racism in Higher Education’ that I attended. This conference featured a panel of four professionals from various sectors who discussed the theme of challenging racism in higher education. The second conference was organised and led by passionate students who showcased their research works. Both events sparked discussions about morals and perception.
The first conference shed light on the challenges people of colour face in academia. The panel consisted of all-black female speakers who shared their experiences and struggled to reach their current positions. They discussed minor aggressions faced by people of colour, how to handle difficult situations, and the keys to their success, including perseverance. Jason Arday gave an inspiring speech urging women of colour to dream big. The other two panels focused on intersectionality, bringing to light the intersection of racism and religion. Attendees were encouraged to share their experiences and ideas for creating a more accepting academic environment.
The conference provided an excellent opportunity for students to showcase their works, gain presentation and confidence skills, and network with guests from partner schools in Uzbekistan, Thailand, Norway and City and Islington College. Overall, the conferences were spectacular and insightful.
Halima Sani, University of Westminster