De Montfort University

Decolonising and Decarbonising DMU

The Decolonising DMU project, through DMU’s Race Equality Charter actions, aims to challenge racism and build an anti-racist university that creates fair outcomes for staff and students. Its golden thread is its anti-racist activist endeavour facilitated by a collaboration between students, academic and professional services staff.

Our mission through the project is to dismantle racist barriers and structures so that staff and students can succeed. This will be achieved by challenging racism, changing cultures and behaviours, improving representation, progression, and talent, and measuring this through governance and accountability frameworks to ensure equity in education and research.

The Decolonising DMU project team is made up of staff and students from all areas of the institution, to ensure a broad perspective on our decolonising journey. The team also partners and collaborates with teams across the university community to embed decolonising principles in every element of university life including the Education for Sustainable Development team.

What the Judges Thought

An important and impressive initiative that has been implemented in a creative and inclusive manner that has led to significant outcomes and broad engagement of staff, students, external bodies, and the wider sector. The Decolonising and Decarbonising DMU project has achieved various amounts of engagement, research, and development. It is rewarding to see how students and staff have been involved and some of the outcomes that have resulted from the project.

What it Means to Win

"Our aim is to empower our students and staff and remove the barriers to achievement. Decolonising DMU is a fantastic example of this and I am delighted that the project has been acknowledged in this way."

Katie Normington, Vice-Chancellor

Top 3 Learnings

1. The team recognised how important the sense of community and open channels of communication are for our students
2. The project has been student-led which provides credibility to the project and in its message to other students.
3. The project has really engaged staff and students right across the institution.