Diversity Mark
Underpinning Methodologies
Diversity Mark isn’t just a “reading list check”. It is grounded in well-established, research-informed frameworks that push for deeper, long-term change. Key methodologies underpinning the process include:
Culturally Responsive Pedagogy
Recognising students’ cultural identities as assets, not add-ons. This approach encourages modules to draw on diverse knowledge systems, examples, case studies, and scholars — making learning feel relevant and empowering.
Decolonial Curriculum Design
Challenging traditional hierarchies of knowledge and reshaping content, so it includes voices historically marginalised in academia. This includes questioning why certain perspectives dominate and intentionally widen the lens through which the subject is taught.
Co-Creation with Students
Students aren’t passive recipients — they’re active partners. DM Officers work alongside staff to review materials, share lived experience and bring in contemporary perspectives that help reveal blind spots.
Inclusive Learning Design (UDL-Informed)
Using Universal Design for Learning principles to support accessibility, varied ways of engaging with content, and assessment methods that work for a wide range of learners.
Critical Reflection / Reflexive Practice
Staff are supported to step back, ask challenging questions about their own assumptions, and build a reflective habit that strengthens long-term teaching practice.
Evidence-Led Decision Making
All recommendations are informed by student feedback, attainment data, and insight from Student Success research — ensuring changes are meaningful, measurable, and sustainable.
How Students are involved
Diversity Mark is powered by a team of Diversity Mark Officers (DMOs). These are paid roles where students are trained to work directly with academic staff, bring fresh perspectives, and co-create more inclusive, culturally aware curricula.
How staff are involved?
MODULE ROUTE
This is for academics who want to refresh or rethink a specific module. On this route, Diversity Mark Officers (specially trained student interns) partner with academics to review the content of a specific module, challenge assumptions, and embed inclusive pedagogy in ways that feel meaningful and sustainable.
After submitting relevant evidence of this process, academics receive a Diversity Mark Module Award and a logo to add to their module — a clear, visible recognition of their work to create a more inclusive curriculum.
PRACTITIONER ROUTE
This route is designed for academics looking to develop inclusive teaching, curriculum and assessment design practices beyond a single module. It involves engagement in a Designing Inclusive Modules Retreat — a collaborative, immersive space to rethink teaching and curriculum design practices through a diversity and inclusion lens. After submitting relevant evidence of this process, academics receive a Diversity Mark Practitioner Award — a recognition of their inclusive teaching and curriculum design practices and their commitment to enhancing student belonging. University of Kent staff can find out more on SharePoint.
Awarded Modules
These modules have been awarded a Diversity Mark award for their commitment to building inclusive resources into their reading lists.
Statistical Consultancy & Data Presentation MAST60121/MAST70121
Dr Diana Cole and Diversity Mark Officer Raahavy Rasaiya 2024
Introduction to Social Anthropology ANTS3010
Dr Anna Waldstein and Diversity Mark Lead Rachel Gefferie 2024
Introduction to Management BUSN3120
Dr Sideeq Mohammed and Diversity Mark Officer Paige Sharma 2024
The Regulation of Platform & Surveillance Capitalism LAWS6600
Dr Will Mbioh and Diversity Mark Officer Olisa Ofoma 2024
Professional Development & Person-centred Practice 1 PDPCP1
Dr Helen Bintley and Senior Diversity Mark Officer Dibra Thapa Magar 2024
Support, Help & Intervention SOCI9300
Vanisha Jassal and Diversity Mark Officer Ola Ozoemena 2024
Education in a Global World SOCI5014
Dr Triona Fitton and Diversity Mark Officer Ola Ozoemena 2024
Developing the Criminological Imagination SOCI4110
Dr Nikhaela Wicks and Diversity Mark Lead Rachel Gefferie 2024
Sports and Remedial Massage SPOR3530
Dr Kyra De Coninck and Senior Diversity Mark Officer Dibra Thapa Magar 2024
Film, Politics and Identity FILM6350
Dr Margrethe Bruun Vaage and Diversity Mark Officer Dibra Thapa Magar 2023
Who Do You Think You Are? POLI6890
Iain MacKenzie and Diversity Mark Officer Bunmi Omojuwa 2023
Introduction to Forensic Science FSCI3010
Professor Robert Green and Diversity Mark Officer Paige Sharma 2023
Advanced Topics in Forensic Science PSCI7120
Professor Robert Green and Diversity Mark Officer Paige Sharma 2023
The Inclusive University UELT8330
Dr Lucy Panesar and Senior Diversity Mark Officer Rachel Gefferie 2023
Theatre and Adaptation DRAM6850
Margherita Laera and Diversity Mark Officer Rachel Gefferie 2022
Introduction to Political Thought POLI3140
Ben Turner and Diversity Mark Officer Rachel Gefferie 2022
Reporting and Writing I JOUR3010
Angela Harrison and Diversity Mark Officer Rachel Gefferie 2022
Specialist Journalism JOUR8210
Angela Harrison and Diversity Mark Officer Rachel Gefferie 2022
Specialist Journalism JOUR6070
Angela Harrison and Diversity Mark Officer Rachel Gefferie 2022
Awarded Practitioners
The following colleagues achieved the Diversity Mark Practitioner Award by demonstrating principles of cultural sensitivity, diversity and inclusion in their teaching and curriculum design practices.
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Dr Nagina Khan
Senior Clinical Research Fellow and Programme Director ~ Centre for Health Services StudiesMSc Applied Health and Care Research
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Dr Eleni Kapogianni - Language Centre
Lecturer in Linguistics ~ Language Centre -
Dr Rachel Duffy
Lecturer in Marketing ~ Kent Business SchoolDirector of Studies for BSc Marketing
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Dr Laura Bailey
Senior Lecturer in English Language and Linguistics ~ Language Centre -
Dr Emma Travers-Hill
Senior Lecturer in Psychology with a Clinical Focus ~ School of PsychologyProgramme Director of the Clinical Psychology MSc Programme Director of the Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP) Apprenticeship MSc
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Dr Sara Lopez-Gomollon
Lecturer in Plant RNA Biology ~ Biosciences at Kent -
Dr Jo Dockwray
Lecturer in Clinical Skills and Professional Practice ~ Medway School of PharmacyLead for Interprofessional Education
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Dr Sadaf Ashraf
Lecturer in Biological Sciences ~ Medway School of Pharmacy -
Dr Joanne Pettitt
Senior Lecturer in Comparative Literature ~Language Centre -
Dr Christina Kim
Senior Lecturer in Linguistics ~ Language CentreDirector of Recruitment and Admissions
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Dr Lavinia Brydon
Senior Lecturer in Film ~ Arts at KentMA Film Convenor Co-Lead Centre for the Sustainable Built Environment
External Recognition
The University of Kent Diversity Mark programme has received numerous accolades and awards from external organisations and awarding bodies.
