Empowering Students to Make a Difference for Royal Holloway, University of London
Grant commissioner: UN PRME 2022 Seed Funding Competition for Developing Innovative Pedagogies & Teaching Practice
Partners: Dr. Lucy Gill-Simmen and Professor Sukanya Sen Gupta, Royal Holloway, University of London
Audience: Business students that hold margainislised identities race, gender, sexuality, class and disability approx. 20+
Research: Engaging marginalized business students to imagine their highest selves through Future Self portraiture and writing with the hopes of raising their ambition, self efficacy and primed to address UN Sustainable Development Goals on equality in October 2023.
“Liberating education consists in acts of cognition, not transferals of information.”
(Left to right) Birungi Kawooya, Dr. Lucy Gill-Simmen, Royal Holloway, University of London
Research Activity
Designed Future Self Workshop - To help margainalised student to feel safe to express their highest hopes and dreams for themselves, free of current limitations which negatively
impact ambition and achievement.
Supported research - Dr Lucy designed pre and post survey questions and led a focus group to measure the impact of the workshop.
Presented on the importance of empathy – I shared authentic experiences of capitalisms ability to dehumanise people and how art helps us to maintain our unique perspectives and
competitive advantage.
Mindful sensory exploration – I guided students to be present with natural fibres, aromatheuptic plants and African textiles.
Future Self Biography writing – I help students to consider their hopes in their family, communities and beyond and I fostered a safe environment as they shared their goals with
each other.
Abstract Future Self art making - I coached participants to make an image to embody their dream and championed freestyle self portraiture making.
Impact
Hope
.
Vision
.
Support
.
Hope . Vision . Support .
Participants opened up to themselves and with each other, creating a warm and inspiring environment where they can work towards their goals with support.
Result: Survey results showed an overall improvement in feelings of self efficacy and hope.
Testimonials
“You helped me get to know my students and *look* at how they are connecting with each other and
themselves!”
“Your presentation and sharing transformed the energy of the room.”
“You reminded me to look after myself and share”