Master Class 2.2: Practice

Elevating non-WEIRD voices: Integrating non-Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic perspectives into higher education

Session Description:
In today’s globalized world, it’s more important than ever for higher education institutions to incorporate non- Western, educated, industrialized, rich and democratic (WEIRD) and diverse perspectives into their curriculums. Join Dr. Varina Michaels as she shares her experiences leading multinational D&I programs and grass-roots not-for-profit advocacy and education, and how she brings this experience to the classroom through her Visiting Professor role at IESEG School of Management.

This workshop brings together educators from around the world to question the underlying assumptions of ‘whiteness’ in education and to apply the lens of intersectionality to explore the tools and knowledge necessary to integrate non-WEIRD perspectives into their courses. Dr. Michaels will unpack her ethical co-creation framework, based on Our Race Transformational Ethical Story Telling (T.E.S.T.) principles, to demonstrate best practices for working with diverse communities to incorporate their perspectives in a respectful and meaningful way. Dr. Michaels will draw from her own research and advocacy for Women of Colour and highlight work being done in LGBTIQ+ and specially-abled communities.

Throughout the workshop, we’ll emphasize the importance of being aware of power dynamics and avoiding tokenism. We’ll discuss the need for ongoing dialogue and collaboration with non-WEIRD communities to ensure that their perspectives are accurately represented. Our workshop doesn’t just stop at the classroom; we’ll also explore ways to incorporate non-WEIRD perspectives into extracurricular activities and engage with the wider community to promote inclusivity and equity.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to share your own experiences and challenges, gain valuable insights and practical strategies for integrating diverse perspectives into higher education.

Speaker:
Dr. Varina Michaels
Diversity, Inclusion and Leadership Consultant, Academic, and Director of Research and Advocacy for Women of Colour Australia (WoCA)

Dr. Michaels is a leading Diversity, Inclusion and Intercultural Management expert, with a PhD in Intersectional Identities from UNSW Business School. She is currently Diversity and Inclusion Project Lead for Nosworthy Group, Visiting Professor for IESEG School of Management and Director of Research and Advocacy for Women of Colour Australia (WoCA).

Working with some of the most senior organisational leaders in business today, Dr. Michaels creates forums where individuals find meaning and develop the courage to confront complex issues and enact change. But meaningful change can not happen without meaningful engagement. As Director of Research and Advocacy at Women of Colour Australia, she leads with purpose to ensure that the voices of Women of Colour are centered in the work of herself and her team. Dr. Michaels has presented her work and insights at conferences, speaking events and Universities around the globe.