Diversity Mark
Staff involvement
Diversity Mark 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) and librarians 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.
Diversity Mark 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. Kent staff can find out more information on SharePoint.
Student involvement
Students are recruited through the Empower scheme to be Diversity Mark Officers (DMOs). In this paid role, students are trained to work directly with academics, bring fresh perspectives, and co-create more inclusive, culturally sensitive curricula.
Methodologies
Diversity Mark is grounded in well-established, research-informed frameworks that push for deeper, long-term change. Key methodologies include:
Data-Informed Decision Making
Developments are informed by student feedback, attainment data, and insight from Student Success research — ensuring changes are meaningful, measurable, and sustainable.
Culturally Sensitive Curricula
Participants use a self-reflection tool (Quinlan and Thomas, 2024) to develop curricula that respects and affirms culturally diverse and intersectional cultures, identities, histories and contexts.
Publications
Learn more about Diversity Mark developments and methodologies from the following open access publications:
- Adewumi, B. (2024) Race Equity and Inclusive Curriculum: Diversity Mark and Making a Lasting Impression on the Institution. In: Race, Capital, and Equity in Higher Education: Challenging Differential Academic Attainment in UK Universities. Edited by A. Hensby and B. Adewumi. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 243-261
- Ahn, M. Y., Quinlan, K. M. and Adewumi, B. (2023) Diversifying curricula: how are people of colour represented in lecture slide images?. In: Teaching in Higher Education. Taylor & Francis, pp. 497-511. doi: 10.1080/13562517.2023.2283725.
- Quinlan, K. M. and Thomas, D. S. P. (2024) The Culturally Sensitive Curricula Educator Self-Reflection Tool as a step toward curricular transformation, International Journal for Academic Development, pp. 1–6. doi: 10.1080/1360144X.2024.2338218.
Awarded Modules
The following modules have achieved the Diversity Mark Module Award.
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
Sports and Remedial Massage SPOR4015
Dr Kyra De Coninck and Senior Diversity Mark Officer Dibra Thapa Magar (revised for 2025)
Awarded Practitioners
The following colleagues have achieved the Diversity Mark Practitioner Award.
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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
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Mano Suzuki
Lecturer in World Languages: Japanese - Language Centre -
Dr Samantha Evans
Senior Lecturer in HRM - Kent Business SchoolEquality, Diversity & Inclusion Lead
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Hannah Henderson
Clinic Solicitor - Kent Law School -
Dr Aravinda Kosaraju
Senior Lecturer ~ Centre for Child Protection -
Dr Alex Marlow-Mann
Lecturer in Film / Lecturer in Italian ~ School of Arts and Architecture -
Blaine Epsley
Lecturer in Digital Arts and Technology ~ School of Engineering, Mathematics and PhysicsDirector of Studies (Digital Design)
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Dr Kate Bradley
Reader in Social History/Policy ~ School of Social SciencesCo-Deputy Director of the Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice
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Dr Claire Melanie Boucher
Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science ~ School of Natural Sciences -
Sameena Hoda
Academic Skills Tutor ~ Student Life -
Dr Jennifer Leigh
Reader in Creative Practices for Social Justice ~ School of Social SciencesCo-Lead of Future Human Signature Research Theme/ Co-Chair of Visual and Sensory Research Cluster/Co-Chair of Staff Disability Network
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Dr Maria Gallagher
Lecturer in Cognition and Neuroscience ~ School of Psychology -
Ollie Herdson
Lecturer in Cognitive Psychology ~ School of Psychology
External Recognition
The University of Kent Diversity Mark programme has received numerous accolades and awards from external organisations and awarding bodies.
