Diversity Mark Award Ceremony:
Academics and Diversity Mark Officers celebrate their achievements at the University of Kent Learning & Teaching Conference - September 2024.
University of Kent academics can engage with Diversity Mark through two distinct but interconnected routes:
- The Diversity Mark Module Route which focuses on the co-creation and review of module reading lists between academics, librarians and student interns employed and trained as Diversity Mark Officers
Or
- The Diversity Mark Practitioner Route via an upcoming retreat on Designing Inclusive Modules, which utilises the Diversity Mark methodology to inform and support academics and their teaching/curriculum development practices.
The two routes will run concurrently as collaborative projects, fostering cross-pollination, especially in key areas such as awards recognition and engagement with Academic Librarians, who play a vital role in both routes.
Diversity Mark is a collaborative process, with expertise and guidance from our team of Academic Librarians. As part of Diversity Mark, the Library team assists with the restructuring of the reading list, resourcing diverse readings, and creating a reading list through TALIS.
Diversity Mark Module Route:
Diversity Mark Officers and Academic Librarians are working with convenors on module reviews for 2024/25. If you’re interested in taking part, please contact DiversityMark@kent.ac.uk, we’d be happy to discuss the Diversity Mark Module process and award with you.
Diversity Mark Practitioner Route:
Kent academics can find more details on signing up for the upcoming Designing Inclusive Modules retreat on our internal SharePoint page, linked here.
Diversity Mark Module and Practitioner Awards:
At the culmination of either the Diversity Mark Module or Diversity Mark Practitioner routes, University of Kent academics have the opportunity to apply for a Diversity Mark Award.
To achieve the Diversity Mark Module Award, a convenor must undertake a comprehensive review of their module’s reading list and engage in a reflective review process with students. This ensures that diverse authors and perspectives—including those related primarily to race/ethnicity (with additional consideration on intersectionality such as gender, sexuality, disability, and socio-economic backgrounds) are meaningfully considered within their discipline.
To achieve the Diversity Mark Practitioner Award, academics must demonstrate how principles of cultural sensitivity, diversity and inclusion are actively reflected in their teaching practices, curriculum design, and learning environments.
As part of both routes, academics will have developed a SMART Action Plan and/or implemented tangible changes based on recommendations.
Award applications are submitted to the Diversity Mark Awarding Panel. Dependent on the route, if successful, the module receives the Diversity Mark Module Award and logo, and the academic is awarded the Diversity Mark Practitioner Award.
Help
If you would like to know more about achieving these awards and to discuss your participation on either routes, please email DiversityMark@kent.ac.uk .