FIESOLE Symposium 2023 in Brno: How can we increase awareness of diversity, equality and inclusivity in the multicultural Higher Education classroom?

The 8th Symposium held by the FIESOLE Group took place at the Masaryk University Language Centre in Brno on 28–⁠29 April with a special focus on equality, diversity, and inclusivity (EDI) in the multicultural Higher Education classroom.

12. 5. 2023

Among the guests were members of the European University Institute (EUI), Masaryk University teachers and language professionals from various higher education institutions across Europe. The programme also included discussions regarding the promotion of doctoral and post-doctoral mobility in Europe which is also supported by the FIESOLE Group.

On the first day, the atendees reflected on the EDI (equality, diversity, inclusivity) with a presentation by Laurie Jane Anderson (professor at University of Siena and EUI) followed by a moderated panel "Early Career Academics Perspectives´" with PhD and post-doctoral students and Max Weber fellows Barbara Staffolani (Masaryk University), Josef Mueller (University College London) and Miha Marčenko (EUI). The programme continued with Katie Mansfield (University of Westminster) focusing on ways of incorporating aspects of social justice into teaching materials, and Alison Standring (London School of Economics) closing the day with a round table "Reflecting on diversity".

On Saturday, FIESOLE Group Coordinator Libor Štěpánek presented the concept of Teaching Practice Week which brings talented Max Weber Programme fellows to our language centre through the support of EUI. Petr Zelina, PhD researcher of Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University then introduced the newest phenomena - Artifical Intelligence tools and the technical "magic" behind them.

The full programme of 2023 Symposium can be found here.