消息及活动

The Faculty of Education and Human Development (FEHD) hosted an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) retreat on 25 June, 2024. The event brought together 40 members of staff who remain committed to promoting EDI within the faculty. The attendees included department heads, faculty EDI committee members, departmental representatives and administrative staff, and faculty staff.

The retreat featured an array of expert speakers from both local and international institutions, who addressed key issues essential to creating an inclusive academic environment. The main discussion topics included:

• EDI issues in Hong Kong by Prof Kerry Kennedy of EdUHK
• Underrepresentation of senior women academics by Prof Sarah Aiston, Teesside University, UK
• Experiences of gender diverse and sexual minority groups by Dr Diana Kwok of EdUHK
• Mainland Chinese students’ acculturation by Dr Lucy Yu of Lingnan University
• Creating a racially inclusive campus by Ms Niru Vishwanath of the Equal Opportunities Commission

Additionally, three students – Samuel Getnet Abate, Maria, and You Chen – shared their personal experiences, highlighting some of the challenges they face as diverse members of the EdUHK community. Their invaluable insights will help guide the development of comprehensive support systems and inclusive policies.

A major highlight of the retreat was the presentation of the FEHD EDI survey results by Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Specialist  Dr Miron Bhowmik. The survey findings provided a scientific foundation for informed discussions and strategic planning.

In the final session, the participants engaged in a focused discussion to formulate strategies for integrating EDI principles into various areas of their works, including teaching, research, service, student support, staff recruitment, professional development, and marketing and communication. They proposed a variety of innovative strategies which they plan to implement in the coming academic year.

The FEHD EDI retreat represents a significant step towards building an academic community that actively fosters a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion at EdUHK.