Are We Still Decolonising the University? One-Day Symposium co-hosted by DLU
This one-day in-person symposium brought together over 60 staff and students from universities across the UK to discuss decolonisation and anti-racism in Higher Education. The event was co-hosted by Dr Sunita Abraham (Lancaster University), Dr Laura Key and Lucy Potter (York St John University), and Dr Leon Moosavi (University of Liverpool).
The symposium was open to all staff and students working in, or interested in, decolonisation, anti-racism and anti-colonial scholarship, as well as those engaging with the legacies of slavery and empire in contemporary society. Participants represented a wide range of disciplines, career stages and institutional contexts, creating space for rich cross-sector discussion.
Professor Kendi Guantai, Dean for Culture and Inclusion at Lancaster University, opened the event by highlighting the need to move beyond a singular Eurocentric knowledge framework towards a more equitable and globally inclusive academic foundation.
Discussions focused on the increasing push-back against the term ‘decolonisation’, concerns around its depoliticisation, and the risks of symbolic or fragmented institutional approaches. While some participants noted growing discomfort with the term, many argued for reclaiming it as part of a progressive agenda aimed at structural change within universities.
Given that decolonising efforts can often be disjointed and reactive, a key aim of the symposium was to explore ways of building sustained collaboration across institutions. Participants shared practical challenges, current initiatives and ideas for future collective action.
A major outcome of the day was strong support for the development of a UK-wide Decolonisation in Higher Education Network, intended to support long-term relationship-building, shared learning and accountability across the sector. The symposium directly contributed to the planning of subsequent online meetings and the later national network launch hosted by DLU.
The event built on existing decolonial initiatives at Lancaster University, the University of Liverpool and York St John University, and aimed to strengthen connections between staff and students working towards institutional and sector-wide change.
Date:
23 September 2025
Time:
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location:
Lancaster University