Academic pride

In order to highlight LGBTQI issues, critical analysis of norms, and equal treatment, Chalmers, in collaboration with the University of Gothenburg, has decided to jointly launch Academic Pride. These two universities have been partners of West Pride for several years, an annual event held in Gothenburg in mid-June. During West Pride 2024, researchers will participate with lectures that illuminate LGBTQI issues from various research perspectives.

By organizing Academic Pride, we aim to turn our gaze inward and examine how we currently address LGBTQI issues, critical analysis of norms, and equal treatment. What are we doing well, and what can we improve? We aim to create academic environments where everyone feels welcome, and through this event, employees and students will have the opportunity to learn more about how to implement these issues in their daily lives.

There will be lectures, along with conversations and practical experiences.

Academic Pride is planned to become a recurring event, taking place alternately every two years at Chalmers and the University of Gothenburg.

Programme

14:00–14:45

Academic Pride – a proud collaboration

How should Chalmers and GU be educational institutions where everyone can grow and treat each other with mutual respect?

Academic Pride begins with representatives from both academies giving opening speeches and engaging in a discussion about the importance of creating engagement and understanding of issues related to critical analysis of norms and equal treatment.

Participating speakers

Pauli Kortteinen, Vice-Chancellor responsible for issues regarding education, University of Gothenburg
Maria Elmquist, Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for equality and leadership, Chalmers
Hampus Haugland, chairman of University of Gothenburg student unions
Student union representative from Chalmers student union
Representative from West Pride

Moderator

Francisco Gomes, senior lecturer, Interaction Design and Software Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Chalmers

Coffee break

15:15–16:15
Practical examples and experiences from the academy

The program item begins with three shorter presentations by researchers and students from the academy.The program item is rounded off with a panel discussion with participants.

Norms about gender, sexuality and identity in higher education - observations and reflections based on research and teaching experiences

Teaching is about relationships where we as teachers start from different ideas about who the students are and how we ourselves are understood. Not infrequently this means that we take for granted and repeat heterosexual cis norms. This presentation is based on research on heteronormativity in higher education and on experiences of teaching in teacher education about gender, sexuality, and norm criticism. We will share reflections on teaching subjects which - based on the fact that there are very different experiences among the students - can arouse both commitment and negative reactions. For some students, teaching is a first encounter with thoughts that problematize identity based on gender and sexuality, while for others it is about their existence.

Fostering LGBTQIA+ Belonging and Visibility in Education

The talk explores norm criticism in education by focusing on how a sense of belonging breaks barriers in the study environment and make LGBTQIA+ students feel seen in lectures and their future careers. The talk will show the impact that promoting role models from marginalized groups has on students' relationship to their learning and study environment. Besides learning about the impact of such strategies, attendees will likely discover some LGBTQIA+ pioneers in various areas of Computer Science and Engineering.

Help desk and workshop tools for norm-critical perspectives

We will present our work with, and research on, integrating the theme "equality, diversity and equal treatment" (JLM) within the undergraduate education at Chalmers University of Technology. All students who graduate from Chalmers must have skills to be able to contribute to JLM in society, such as e.g. future developers, suppliers and administrators of products, processes, systems, and services. To support Chalmers' teachers, we work with help desks and workshops, where norm-critical perspectives on technology are worked on, among other things.

Participating in the programme item

Jonna Håkansson, doctoral student, Unit for General Didactics and Pedagogic Work, University of Gothenburg
Francisco Gomes, senior lecturer, Interaction Design and Software Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Chalmers
Lisa Lindén, associate professor, Science, Technology and Society, Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers
Anna Grzelec, visiting researcher, Science, Technology and Society, Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers

Moderator

Francisco Gomes, senior lecturer, Interaction Design and Software Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Chalmers

16:30–17:30
Consciousness in everyday life - inclusion for everyone

We will talk about how exclusion and marginalization can emerge in everyday life and in the student environment, and how we can become more aware and act to create a more inclusive environment for all. An interactive lecture about unconscious bias and how we use allyship for positive change.

Participating in the program item

Lillemor Dahlgren, human resources specialist, University of Gothenburg

17:30–19:00

Afterwork at Wijkanders

After today's programme is over, we invite you to After Work at Wijkanders. You as a visitor are responsible for the cost of any food and drink.

 

Warm welcome!