Subject by subject, how to find offence

CLASSICS AND ANCIENT HISTORY

The Quality Assurance Agency says courses ‘must now engage with and explain’ the connections between the subject and ‘imperialism, colonialism, white supremacy and class division’. Students should study the work of ‘people from oppressed and marginalised groups’.

Teaching should include topics such as ‘post-colonial and decolonising approaches’ and perspectives of groups ‘dominated by empire’. Modules should also be included on disability, gender and sexuality, bringing out diversity in ancient material.

GEOGRAPHY

The agency says concepts and techniques formed through ‘ colonial enlightenment science’ contributed to the ‘overseas expansion of British and European empires, which was justified using narratives of white, able and heteronormative superiority’.

It adds: ‘Racism, classism, ableism, homophobia and patriarchy, must be acknowledged and countered.’

HISTORY

Tutors should ‘engage closely with work to decolonise the curriculum, including challenging Eurocentric conceptual frameworks and the dismantling of subject practices that perpetuate inequities’.

COMPUTING

Courses should acknowledge and address ‘how divisions and hierarchies

of colonial value are replicated and reinforced within the computing subject’.

MATHS

the Qaa says: ‘the curriculum should present a multicultural and decolonised view of mathematics, statistics and operational research, informed by the student voice’.

ECONOMICS

the agency wants students to be taught that it is ‘still predominantly a white, male and Western field’.

BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

Students should ‘critically engage’ with how the field has ‘contributed to and benefitted from social injustice’ and how influential scientists might have ‘benefitted from and perpetuated misogyny, racism, homophobia, ableism and other prejudices’.

LANGUAGES, CULTURES AND SOCIETIES

Students should reflect on ‘ historical and contemporary forms of injustice and inequality related to imperialism, colonialism, class or gender divisions’.

PSYCHOLOGY

the Qaa says: ‘Courses are historically based on research and theory from homogenous white, educated, industrialised, rich and democratic countries and do not represent diverse voices and contributions to the discipline.

‘as a consequence, curricula often privilege a narrow range of voices (for example, white, cisgender, non-disabled).’