Black History Month Events

Monday 11-12-2017 - 11:26

STILL ON THE IMPACT ON INTERNATIONALISATION AND INTERCULTURAL SKILL VALUES IN STUDENTS THROUGH BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS

My understanding about intercultural skills is that they are values that are necessary and important especially for students to build there knowledge about diversity and its importance as an added advantage even after studies when transiting into the work place.

It was a great privilege for me to see through the organisation of the Black History Month event together with support from the University to ensure all students (home and international) benefit from it.

It was a memorable event that helped educate students and staff across GCU on intercultural awareness and the importance in self-development. In October, two events where carried out, the speakers event and multicultural event. The speaker’s event which took place on 10^th October 2017, was well attended by students with teaching, non-teaching staff and GCU alumni.

Speakers for the events were; Dr. Ima Jackson who is a GCU lecturer at the School of Health and Life Sciences and also involved in GCU community engagement. She talked about the importance of promoting diversity in the education system and overcoming racism in society. Second, was Adebayo Aibinu, currently a GCU research student, and who is the first black councillor in Glasgow, and a member of the Young Pharmacologist Advisory Group, which is part of a British Pharmacological Society within the United Kingdom. He talked about the black people in politics and their importance in a diverse country like the United Kingdom. Another speaker present was Dika Odum, one of the university alumni and the MD/CEO of Kherithdum Limited, co-founder/CEO GITO Solutions Ltd, Nigeria, and involved in organizing the first World Environment Day UN side event in Nigeria, Africa. He spoke about life after study and impact of youth in making a change in their community.

The topics discussed were found useful, educating and informative for students and staff, improving their knowledge of how they could be a good citizen in the society and as well make a positive impact as a potential leader. During the seminar, the Careers Service also acknowledged the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneurship Scheme for newly introduced international students and how it could build business ideas, creativity and internationalisation opportunities for students.

The second event took place on 13^th October 2017, which involved over 190 people including staff. The event was graced by the presence of the Pro Vice-Chancellor International, the Vice-Chair of Court, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Strategy, and some staff of the University from the Careers Service, Marketing and Communications, Alumni Engagement Team, People Services and teaching staff.

Different cultural food was provided with cultural dance displays to entertain the audience and as well educate them on the uniqueness of understanding different cultural perspectives.

Stories and the history of countries were also told to create more awareness about the diversity across the school and the society at large.