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As a response to the changing shape of International Relations within the UK many Schools and Departments have begun initiatives focused on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion to address enduring challenges in the field. The aims of these vary but have included overdue efforts to build diverse and inclusive work cultures and address persistent inequalities. For those working on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (as leads, committees, or otherwise) this has been complicated by institutional pushes to obtain Athena Swan or Race Equality Charter awards.
With the hope of sharing experiences, we are creating a new forum and support network for International Relations colleagues specifically working on EDI within their institutions and the discipline or interested in developing expertise in this area. Given the complexity and importance of this area of work, there is value in sharing ideas and strategies, and supporting one another in identifying ways to redress inequalities in connection with race, gender, health status, disability, care work, or understanding how EDI approaches relate to addressing the impact of increased workloads associated with teaching, administration and project management. Further, as many of the EDI challenges facing UK universities are not isolated to one institution, but sector-wide, we hope that the forum can provide the basis for joint organising on responding to vital needs. Finally, we hope the forum can help us EDI work becoming co-opted into what Sara Ahmed calls “non-performative” commitments (where the verbal commitment to a principle makes it impossible to undertake meaningful action).
This new BISA EDI Forum will therefore provide an informal opportunity for EDI leads and those interested in EDI to come together at all stages of their career to discuss approaches and the implementation of EDI policies and projects across the range of academic practice, sharing what has worked and what has not, providing peer coaching opportunities all with the intent of ensuring that all IR colleagues can thrive in their research and careers. Please come along with your ideas as we discuss ways forward to share best practices in EDI work for all our colleagues in the discipline.