On Wednesday, 5 June 2024, a workshop called “Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity Workshop: Creating a Culture of Inclusion” was held at the University of Rijeka. It was part of a program for the YUFE delegation, which consisted of student representatives and staff from all YUFE partner institutions, during their several-day visit to UNIRI.
Ten participants were guided through the workshop by Karen Bush, the leader of YUFE work package that focuses on equity, diversity, and inclusivity, from the University of Essex, along with Sandra Nuždić and Tino Vodanović from the UNIRI Diversity Team.
It was mainly aimed at the YUFE institutional coordinators with the purpose of, among other things, facilitating a shared understanding of the terms used when referring to equality, diversity, and inclusivity in the context of YUFE. A shared understanding of these terms is important considering the fact that each of the institutional representatives comes from a specific social context and may have different interpretations. The workshop also covered topics such as exploring the factors that contribute to creating a culture of inclusion within an institution. It also provided a space to discuss ways to challenge inappropriate behavior in an appropriate way.
A particularly interesting discussion arose during and after the exercise called Privilege Gallery. The exercise consisted of different everyday situations written on papers throughout the room. Its aim was to raise awareness among participants that each individual is privileged in certain aspects, and that these aspects differ from person to person. Apart from raising awareness about individual privileges, there was also a discussion regarding the need for mutual help and support when it comes to the aspects we are privileged in, but maybe someone else is not. Personally, I share the opinion of the participants that the Privilege Gallery was the highlight of the workshop. It is important, in my opinion, to raise awareness about privilege on a regular basis so that we don’t take it for granted. After all, privilege is not something we choose, but we can certainly be aware of it.
At the end of the workshop, followed by positive reactions from the participants, the conclusion was that the only way to create a more open and inclusive environment involves constant mutual efforts.
These and similar activities are a part of what we do at YUFE. Please refer to the YUFE Equity, diversity, and inclusivity (ED&I) online training (available here) if you would like to learn more on these topics.