Season 2
Episode 16: Samir Pandya – ‘Equity’, Diversity and Inclusion and decolonising Architecture curricula
In this episode of the podcast our host Kyra Araneta is joined by Samir Pandya, an architect and Assistant Head of the School of Architecture at our university. Samir’s research largely focuses on the relationship between architecture and identity to examine questions relating to design, representation and power. In this interview we delve into Samir’s academic journey, his role as Director of International and Strategic Lead for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, and how we can begin to decolonise Architecture curricula.
Listen to this episode – Transcript [PDF]
Episode 17: Aishwarya Tiku – The British curriculum in an African context and decolonising Business management studies
In this episode of the podcast our host Fatima Maatwk is joined by Aishwarya Tiku, a researcher in the field of knowledge management practices in higher education. In this interview, we delve into Aishwarya’s educational journey across Africa and the UK, her experience of studying under the British curriculum in these contexts, and her ability to navigate her identity and sense of belonging. Aishwarya shares her thoughts on what it means to decolonise management studies, particularly the importance of anti-racist and decolonial teacher training, and shifting the hierarchal nature of the academy itself.
Listen to this episode – Transcript [PDF]
Episode 18: Kyra Araneta – Sociology to International Relations, decolonising the social sciences and working in partnership
In this episode of the podcast our host Fatima Maatwk is joined by our co-host Kyra Araneta, a student of International Relations (IR) at Westminster and a research assistant on the Pedagogies for Social Justice (PSJ) project. In this interview, we delve into Kyra’s educational journey – particularly her shift from studying Sociology to IR, her understanding of the British curriculum, and her experience of trying to navigate her multi-racial identity and sense of belonging in this time. Kyra also shares her thoughts on student-staff partnership whilst unpacking her work on the PSJ project.
Listen to this episode – Transcript [PDF]
Episode 19: Eddie Bruce-Jones – Research on race in higher education and decolonising Law curricula
In this episode of the podcast our host Kyra Araneta is joined by Dr. Eddie Bruce Jones, a legal academic and Head of the Department of Law at Birkbeck College, London. Eddie’s research and writing largely focuses on topics such as racism, colonialism, state violence and citizenship, though he also plays directorial roles in organisations such as the Institute of Race Relations, Rainbow Migration, and the Journal of Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Law, and more. In this interview, we delve into Eddie’s upbringing and academic journey, his role at the Institute of Race Relations, educational research and how we might begin to decolonise Law curricula. Towards the end, Eddie shares some insight into the postgraduate course he designed and currently teaches at Birkbeck, called ‘Race Law and Literature’.
Listen to this episode – Transcript [PDF]
Episode 20: Zahra Butt – Student Unions, political activism and decolonising the curriculum
In this episode of the podcast our host Kyra Araneta is joined by Zahra Butt, President of the Westminster Student Union. In this interview we discuss Zahra’s academic journey at Westminster, her involvement in the Union leading up to her campaign, as well as unpacking the points of her manifesto. If you wish to get involved or find out more about the Student Union, feel free to visit the link in the description on our website.
Listen to this episode – Transcript [PDF]
Episode 21: Séagh Kehoe – The media as a colonial force, online politics of representation and decolonising Chinese studies
In this episode of the podcast our host Kyra Araneta is joined by Dr. Séagh Kehoe, a Lecturer in Chinese Studies in the School of Humanities at Westminster. In this interview we discuss Seagh’s academic journey and the focus of their PhD. We also unpack Chinese media representations and the impact they have on both people and politics. Towards the end, Seagh shares some of their ideas and methods for decolonising the Chinese studies/Humanities classroom.
Listen to this episode – Transcript [PDF]
Episode 22: Derin Fadina – “Unsettled Subjects” and decolonising Architecture
In this episode of the podcast our host Kyra Araneta is joined by Westminster alumni, Derin Fadina, who recently graduated with a Master’s in Architecture. In this interview we delve into Derin’s academic background, what drew him to Architecture as both an art form and discipline, and his experience of studying it as an undergrad and postgrad. We reflect on his work on our project’s reading lists as well as his involvement in the ‘Unsettled Subjects: Confronting Questions’ project in the School of Architecture. Towards the end, Derin also shares how lecturers can begin to decolonise their pedagogy and practice.
Listen to this episode – Transcript [PDF]
Episode 23: Remi-Joseph Salisbury – Critical Race Theory in the UK, decriminalising the classroom and decolonising educational research
In this episode of the podcast our host Kyra Araneta is joined by Dr. Remi-Joseph Salisbury, a Presidential Fellow in Ethnicity and Inequalities at the University of Manchester, whose interests lie particularly in racism and anti-racism in the contexts of education and policing. In this episode we delve into Remi’s academic background in the social sciences and where his anti-racist thinking and work began. Remi offers insight into the history of tension between the UK government and Critical Race Theory as well as the implications of attacks on CRT and the discourse of “the forgotten White-working class”. We then have the opportunity to discuss his report called “Decriminalise the classroom” which looks specifically at the effects of police presence in Greater Manchester schools. And finally, Remi gives us some ideas on how we might begin to decolonise educational research.
Listen to this episode – Transcript [PDF]
Episode 24: Tino Rwodzi – Identity work, Black women in STEM and dismantling racist assumptions in Biomedical science
In this episode of the podcast our host Fatima Maatwk is joined by third-year Biomedical student, Tino Rwodzi – who is also a member of our project steering group as well as a lead speaker in the DAR (decolonisation and anti-racism) study group. In this interview we delve into Tino’s academic background and her experience of navigating her a sense of identity in university. We consider her journey into the Life Sciences and how she came to develop a critical understanding of the discipline in terms of being a Black woman in STEM. She points out some of the discriminatory assumptions that continue to plague Biomedical Science and the social constructs that the discipline and science itself tend to overlook. And finally, Tino sheds lights on how we might move towards dismantling racist perceptions and assumptions in science, particularly through interdisciplinary methods involving social scientists, historians and more.
Listen to this episode – Transcript [PDF]
Episode 25: Lola Olufemi – Feminism Interrupted, PhD research and thinking about higher education through a feminist lens
In this episode of the podcast our host Kyra Araneta is joined by with black feminist writer and Stuart Hall Foundation researcher, Lola Olufemi. In this interview we discuss Lola’s journey into feminism and how she came to start thinking critically about race and gender, but also liberal feminist theory and action. As she carries out her PhD at Westminster, we discuss the focus of her research and the research process so far. This leads us to unpack the writing behind her book ‘Feminism Interrupted: Disrupting Power’ and finally to thinking about decolonising the university through a feminist lens.
Listen to this episode – Transcript [PDF] – Lola’s website
Episode 26: Ipshita Basu: “Politics of a New Normal”, decolonial storytelling and academics in social justice work
In this episode of the podcast our host Kyra Araneta is joined by Westminster Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Ipshita Basu. In this interview we discuss Ipshita’s background and academic journey from India to the UK. We talk about her new blog which consists of original thought pieces on topics such as the politics of infrastructure, urbanisation and technology. We then move on to the performative workshop that Ipshita co-created called ‘Sharing Untold Stories of Postcolonial Journeys’ and what it means to foster a decolonial space in the institution. Finally, we consider the experience of being an academic who is involved in activism and social justice work, as well as the challenges they often face.
Listen to the episode – Transcript [PDF]
Episode 27: Fatima Maatwk: Student-staff partnership in the university and decolonising Business studies
In this episode of the podcast our host Kyra Araneta is joined by lecturer at Westminster Business School, Fatima Maatwk. Fatima is engaged in a number of research projects on partnership at the university, including the Pedagogies for Social Justice project. In this interview, we discuss Fatima’s journey from studying Business and Economics in Egypt, Germany and the UK – and how this influenced her understanding of race and coloniality. We then go on to ask for her thoughts on student-staff partnership and the importance of utilising it in the classroom, before we get into some of the ways we might begin to decolonise the Business School.
Listen to the episode – Transcript [PDF]
Episode 28/29: Kate M. Graham: Black History Year, white allyship and decolonial pedagogy in English Literature
In this episode of the podcast our host Kyra Araneta is joined by Westminster Lecturer in English Literature, Kate M. Graham. In this two-part interview we discuss Kate’s upbringing and how it shaped her understanding of race and sense of identity. We talk about her academic journey across her Bachelor’s in English, and her two Master’s in Cultural and Critical Studies and Text and Performance Studies . We then move on to think about decolonial and anti-racist projects within the university, specifically the Black History Year initiative at Westminster – before finally considering what it means to foster decolonial pedagogy in English Literature.
Listen to Part 1 – Transcript for Part 1 [PDF]
Listen to Part 2 – Transcript for Part 2 [PDF]
Episode 30: Christopher Newfield: American schooling, Critical University Studies and decolonising university funding
In this episode of the podcast our host Kyra Araneta is joined by the Director of Research at the Independent Social Research Foundation in London and the newly appointed President of the Modern Language Association, Christopher Newfield. With a background in English Literature, his central interests also include critical university studies, management theory, fiscal control and more. In this episode, we discuss his academic journey, Critical University Studies as a school of thought, and the ways in which university funding sustains coloniality.