18 months after the project’s initial conception, the acKnowledge repository was launched by University of Kent colleagues, Dr Barbara Adewumi, Dr Alex Hensby and Dr Triona Fitton, at the annual conference of the British Sociological Association (BSA) which took place on 13th-15th April 2023 in Manchester. Emma Mires-Richards’ contribution to the project (from the University of Kent’s Information Services) was also commended by the team at the event.
The website is the realisation of a collaborative project funded by the BSA and the University of Kent’s LSSJ Investment in Research Fund and the result of many months of work undertaken by the team at the University of Kent.
The objective of the project was to design and assemble a repository, named acKnowledge, showcasing best practice in race and ethnicity teaching and recruitment within the discipline of sociology. The team conducted a national survey to collate and analyse teaching and recruitment policy and resources from across 150 British universities on behalf of the BSA. This resulted in more than 80 submissions from around the UK. The team then 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.
The University of Kent’s project team launched the website at the conference during their presentation Race in British Sociology: A repository of Best Practice in Teaching and Recruitment followed by a round table discussion on next steps for the project chaired by Dr Mark Doidge, Trustee at the BSA. The discussion covered a range of interesting and provocative issues such as how to create a sense of belonging for all in higher education, and how staff can be supported in embedding good practice at a policy level.
Dr Barbara Adewumi states “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.”
Dr Alex Hensby continues “The BSA and the University of Kent are very keen to lead on this focus on race for the social sciences now that the repository has been launched and we will argue the case that it needs to remain live and funding needs to put aside each year so it is maintained and kept up to date.”
Dr Triona Fitton added “Our next step is to work with student EDI leads here at Kent to gather feedback on the utility of the repository as it is. We hope this will enable the BSA to further update and improve the resource going forwards.”
Feedback from the conference attendees was extremely positive:
“Well done all of you, your work must be commended.” Professor Shaminder Takhar, London South Bank University.
“History has been made for the BSA.” Dr Aminu Musa Audu, BSA Treasurer.
“An incredibly comprehensive repository of race resources for all HE educators, expertly compiled by a BSA funded team of researchers at the University of Kent.” Dr Rima Saini-Thakor, BSA Trustee & Senior Lecturer at Middlesex University.
The repository is accessible to all to use and learn from. New contributors are encouraged to submit their valuable work to improve racial equity in sociology.
The acKnowledge website is still a work in progress, but can be viewed here: http://www.acknowledge.org.uk