On 13 March, the School of Education hosted a vibrant, student-led celebration of International Women’s Day, bringing together students and staff for an afternoon of reflection, storytelling, and community building.
The event began with an interactive quiz exploring the history and global significance of International Women’s Day, setting an energising tone for the conversations that followed. This was followed by a storytelling session on the theme of “becoming and storytelling,” in which three members of staff, Yang Zhang, Sandra Leigh, and Renata Seredyńska, shared reflections on how these processes shape women’s identities across their educational and professional journeys.
Participants were actively engaged throughout the event, contributing thoughtful reflections on womanhood, the qualities they value, and the role of education in shaping both personal and collective futures. The reflection cards produced during the session demonstrated a high level of critical engagement and depth.
While staff contributed to the discussions, their role was primarily to support and facilitate the space. The event itself was conceived and led by students, creating an open environment for authentic dialogue, lived experience, and mutual learning rather than delivering a single, predetermined message. The initiative was organised by postgraduate students Qiaohui Xue and Angelika Marie Costales, supported by university-level EDI funding.
Building on this momentum, the organising team is planning a follow-up gathering in June, a summer picnic aimed at continuing the conversations and connections sparked during this celebration.
Posted on Friday 17th April 2026