Valuing Marginalised Voices: NTU and OU Pioneering Co-Creation to Enhance Student Experience

This year's theme, "The Future is Now: Building EDI Practice for the Changing World of HE," focuses on innovative practices in addressing equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in higher education.

This presentation [link to pdf of poster] highlights a cross-institutional and cross-disciplinary initiative born from the Advanced HE Co-Creator Symposium in Manchester 2023. The partnership between NTU and OU aims to value marginalised voices and improve the student experience through co-creation.

At NTU's School of Architecture, Design, and the Built Environment (ADBE), this initiative includes the EDI Matters student competition, "I Belong Here" and "My Voice Matters." Supported by industry sponsorships, these competitions offer prizes and recognition, fostering belonging and empowerment among students. The themes revolve around race equality and the future of various industries, contributing to a broader picture of EDI initiatives at NTU.

The success of these projects at NTU led to a Seedcorn funded project with EDI ambassadors, extending its impact from departmental and school levels to university-wide and national scales. By promoting EDI, intersectionality, and belongingness, these projects have empowered students and created safe spaces for them to express their voices.

Inspired by NTU's efforts, the Law School at OU adopted a similar EDI competition as part of its belonging project. This initiative aimed to foster a sense of belonging within the school by posing the question, "What can the law school do to make your legal studies more relevant to your life experience?" The winning idea focused on support for care leavers, leading to the establishment of a care leaving project, which is now being shared across the law faculty and the entire Open University.

The positive impact of these initiatives is evident in enthusiastic feedback from participating students. Many have expressed that their involvement in these projects has led to a more inclusive and meaningful educational experience. Videos accompanying the presentation showcase heartfelt testimonials from students, highlighting the transformative effect of being heard and valued in their academic journeys.

Meet the Team Behind the Initiative

• Dr. Anthony Ogbuokiri is a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for MSc Project Management (Construction) at NTU's ADBE. He leads the Race and Equality initiative and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), an External Examiner, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), and a Chartered Construction Manager (MCIOB).

• Dr. Rebecca Gamble is the Standards and Quality Manager at the Nottingham School of Art & Design. Previously, she was a Principal Lecturer and MA/MSc Course Leader in Product Design and the Athena Swan Champion for ADBE. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).

• Liz Hardie is a Senior Lecturer in Law at The Open University Law School. She specialises in applying technology for clinical legal education and supporting law students in online environments. Liz co-leads the Law School EDI Competition and focuses on creating a sense of belonging.

• Carol Edwards is a Senior Lecturer and Assistant Head of Student Experience (Retention) at The Open University Law School. She is involved in scholarship, online teaching pedagogy, and assessment feedback. Carol’s interests include tackling student isolation and enhancing belonging, and she co-leads the Law School EDI Competition.

This collaborative effort between NTU and OU showcases the power of co-creation in fostering equality, diversity, and inclusion in higher education. Find out more about the Advance HE Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Conference 2024.