Abstract

This is a conversation between Sara, Language and Communication Tutor, and her students of MA Contemporary Photography at CSM – Binan (Claire) Zheng and Shengzi Hu. The discussion interweaves both student and tutor perspectives on current issues of discrimination and racialised bias within the student body. Claire and Shengzi draw on their experiences as Fine Art students at UAL. Sara draws on her extensive experience working with myriad Art and Design courses across UAL as a Language, Linguistics and Academic Literacies practitioner specialising in critical and decolonial pedagogies. We suggest frameworks that could be implemented across UAL to provide a more equitable and inclusive environment for our international student body.

Session and activities

The conversation begins with introductions – who we are, what we do and our programmes. We share generalised themes and patterns of racialised bias and discrimination within CSM from both student and tutor perspectives. Key focal points are issues with cross-cultural collaboration on UAL’s Collaborative Units, tutor-student and student-student communication dynamics, and the need for greater care and sensitivity for students facing issues such as war and displacement. 

Sara and her students will discuss the interventions and approaches that Sara has offered so far in training for students, touching on benefits and limitations. While acknowledging existing frameworks and strategies employed by the university, we propose additional frameworks that could be scaled up across UAL. These involve, among other themes, cross-cultural collaboration, training for both staff and students and practical tools and strategies that can be incorporated into everyday communications within the UAL community. We invite the audience to participate in this discussion and add their own suggestions.