Black history month

Throughout October, Solent University will celebrate Black History Month in Southampton, working with organisations and partners from across the city to raise awareness of stories and achievements.

Last year, the University hosted a photography exhibition titled 'God Created Black People & Black People Created Style', a collection by Don John (Founder of Black History Month South), along with a public lecture exploring how Southampton's cultural scene has evolved in reflection to society.

This year, like many city-wide events, ours will look a little different, however we have a variety of exciting activities, events and projects lined up for the local community, staff, students and alumni to get involved with from home.

Key highlights from Solent

Virtual Insight

Diversity and the UK - just how diverse is our business community?

When: Tuesday 27 October 2020, 5-6pm
Where: Zoom - joining instructions will be available soon

The UK's business community consists of a wide range of innovative and creative individuals. But just how diverse is the business community?

Join us for this exclusive virtual insight, as part of Black History Month, as we explore the stories from black-owned businesses, provide top tips to those who might be thinking of starting a business or social enterprise, share information on the support out there, and inspire our local community. We would encourage you to submit any panel questions on the registration form for this event.

Book your place

Student projects to support Black History Month

Jonny Hannah, Lecturer in Illustration, has devised a series of projects for Level 4 illustration and graphics students to engage, understand and celebrate subjects relating to Black Lives Matter and Black History Month. Final outputs from the projects will be available as an online exhibition and one poster will be made into a limited edition screen print which will be sold. The posters will celebrate black British women and the students will explore and harness their skills as entrepreneurs as they consider how these prints should be marketed and sold. All proceeds from the sales will be donated to Black History Month South and ring-fenced to initiatives relating to black women.

Three student artworks

Staff and student activity and highlights

Celebration of Solent's BAME network

When: Thursday 29 October 2020, 2pm
Where: Zoom - joining instructions will be available soon

Over the past year, Solent University has supported the development of the BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) network, which is currently open to all Solent staff who self-identify as a member of one of these communities.

This is a fantastic opportunity to staff across the University to collaborate, to get involved with this network, and contribute towards shaping the social justice agenda at Solent.

All staff and students are invited to join network chair, Bill Acharjee and members in this open discussion event to find out more about the network, its aims and objectives, examples of activities the network will deliver, and how to get involved.

This informal session is open to all staff and students to find out more about the Solent University BAME network.

If you have any questions about the event, please email bill.acharjee@solent.ac.uk.

Book your place

Staff and students - Learn about Southampton's black history

Solent library has 40 copies of Don John's book, Black History of Southampton to give away to students and staff who would like a copy. Contact the library via the library chat if you would like a copy.

The library will also regularly be featuring black writers whose books are available from the library. Follow the library on Twitter throughout October for more details.

Solent Futures - Future Ready Fest

When: 13 and 15 October 2020

Solent Futures are hosting an online careers event where a number of employer talks will be delivered online for student and recent graduates, including a talk by Enterprise Rent-A-Car on 'Why diversity and inclusion matters in the workplace'.

Find out more

Mentoring scheme for students

Our Focus Programme - the professional mentoring programme run by Solent Futures - will launch for the 2020/21 academic year on 14 October and is aimed at second year students who identify as female. We are particularly keen to receive applications from BAME students. The scheme matches students (mentees) to business representatives (mentors) to guide students to achieve their career ambitions.

If you are a Solent student and are interested in finding out more, contact us.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please get in touch.