It was a turning point in the history of the British Sociological Association (BSA) last month when Kent sociologists presented their final report and launch of acKnowledge – a best practice repository on race and ethnicity in sociology – at the BSA Annual Conference, in Manchester.
The acknowledge repository, led by Kent sociologists Dr Barbara Adewumi, Dr Triona Fitton, Dr Alexander Hensby, and supported by librarian Emma Mires-Richards, is the culmination of an eighteen month-long project to design and assemble a repository showcasing best practice in race and ethnicity, teaching and recruitment within the discipline of sociology.
Funded by the BSA and University of Kent’s LSSJ Investment in Research Fund, the project team were able to conduct a national survey to collate and analyse teaching and recruitment policy and resources from across 150 British universities. The team assessed which were demonstrative of exceptional and/or innovative practice in the teaching of race, and in recruitment initiatives that aimed to improve racial equity.
Following the conference presentation, a round table discussion resumed on the next steps for the BSA in advocating for racial equity in sociology. Chaired by Dr Mark Doidge, Trustee at the BSA, the conversation centred around issues such as how to create a sense of belonging for all in higher education, institutional whiteness, and how staff can be supported in embedding good practice at a policy level.
Speaking about the project, Dr Rimi Saini-Thakor, BSA Trustee & Senior Lecturer at Middlesex University, said: “It’s an incredibly comprehensive repository of race resources for all HE educators, expertly compiled by Kent researchers”.
Dr Aminu Musa Audu, BSA Treasurer, said: “History has been made for the BSA.”
Dr Adewumi added “The acKnowledge website was extremely well-received by the BSA and conference attendees and it is hoped that the repository will evolve over time and respond to the demands of this important and dynamic subject of advocating for racial equity in sociology.”
The next step for Kent is to work with student EDI leads to gather feedback on the utility of the repository as it is. This will enable the BSA to further update and improve the resource going forwards.
Kent and the BSA will argue the case for annual funding in order for the repository to be maintained and kept up-to-date.
Kent’s presentation ‘Race in British Sociology: A repository of Best Practice in Teaching and Recruitment’
The acKnowledge website is a work in progress. New contributors are encouraged to submit their valuable work to improve racial equity in sociology.