Kirsty Kiezebrink and her teaching team developing and enhancing ways on how they can integrate diversity and inclusivity into the Fundamentals of Research Design course.
Over the last two years, I’ve been working with my teaching team to develop and enhance how we integrate diversity and inclusivity into our Fundamentals of Research Design course. A key step in this has been adding a new learning outcome:
"Develop a plan to ensure that research is conducted in a culturally sensitive and inclusive manner, illustrating the importance of considering race in research design, data collection, and analysis." To support this, we have made extensive use of the excellent resources available through Trial Forge, alongside refining how we teach—ensuring that both students and staff experience the course as truly inclusive. This year, I was especially pleased to see the impact reflected in student feedback: "In particular, I was impressed with how the course actively promoted diversity and inclusivity through its teaching materials and class discussions. The instructors showed genuine respect and sensitivity towards these topics, which encouraged open dialogue and mutual understanding among students from various backgrounds. The course also provided resources and support for students who may have faced challenges related to these aspects, ensuring that everyone felt valued and supported throughout the learning process." It’s incredibly rewarding to see students recognise and appreciate these efforts, and I’m excited to continue developing this work further.