How to Embed EDI, Anti-Racism and Decolonisation in Business School Practice

Edited by Dr Yaz Iyabo Osho (University of Westminster)

Deadline for submissions for book chapter abstracts: 15th December 2023

Rationale
Considerations for social justice through Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), and more recently, anti-racism and decolonisation, have gained widespread attention following high profile race related global events. Watershed moments, including, the murder of George Floyd, the mainstreaming of the BLM movement and Why is My Curriculum White? campaign have forced all sectors in society to examine their strategies and practices in relation to equity, social justice, and inclusion.

Universities, in essence, are positioned as institutions to advance knowledge, establish progress, and promote meritocracy – however, disparities in awarding gaps between white and racially minoritised groups and the differential student experience across students from underrepresented groups demonstrates that this is not always the case.
The Higher Education sector’s journey to address its Eurocentric and Global North centred curriculum, has seen much progress in the Humanities – particularly, Sociology, Media Studies, Cultural Studies where strides have been made to incorporate decolonial praxis, anti-racism and EDI into the curriculum and broader practice within the Business School operations.

Other discipline areas, such as those subjects taught within Business Schools, are lagging behind on building a critical mass of support for strategies and approaches on embedding EDI, anti-racism and decolonisation within the curriculum and broader practices and operations within Business Schools. To withstand the criticisms of being outdated and lacking a promotion of social justice in curricula, the Business School must develop effective strategies and approaches which embed decolonial praxis, anti-racism and EDI into the curriculum and broader practice and operations within the Business School.

About the book

This book supports academics, senior leaders and practitioners undertaking work in Business Schools to embed EDI, anti-racism and decolonisation within the curriculum and in wider practices and operations at School/Department/College level. Chapters will signal the need to push beyond adopting a ‘business as usual approach’ to social justice and provide guidance to those wishing to shift the agenda beyond compliance towards an embedded approach to EDI, anti-racism, and decolonisation.

The authors in this book will bring together proven techniques and strategies, cutting-edge examples, and action point recommendations for undertaking this work in engaging and instructive ways. In doing so, the book blends a combination of theory with real-life examples of practice on embedding EDI, anti-racism and decolonisation within the curriculum and broader context of Business School operation. It will provide readers with instructional guidance, evidence-based techniques, innovative practice, and, thus, be a staple for scholars and practitioners wishing to engage with impact on EDI, anti-racism and work on decolonisation within their institutions.

The editor (Dr Yaz Iyabo Osho) invites expressions of interests from scholars and practitioners to contribute chapters to this book. Topics include, but are not limited to the following:

• Practical advice to academics and practitioners who are seeking to begin work on anti-racism and/or EDI and/or decolonisation within a Business School context
• Leading change on EDI and/or anti-racism and/or decolonisation within a Business School context
• Collaborating with and negotiating multiple stakeholders on EDI and/or anti-racism and/or work on decolonisation within the Business School
• Showcasing innovative approaches and interventions to embedding EDI and/or anti-racism and/or decolonisation within the curriculum and/or broader practices and operations within Business Schools
• Reporting on the challenges, opportunities and/or best practices surrounding EDI and/or anti-racism and/or work on decolonisation within a Business School context
• Evidenced-based, practical and actionable approaches and strategies on progressing the agenda in building an anti-racist Business School and/or a Business School that decolonises it activities across its various operations (including teaching and learning)

Contributors should focus on a Business School discipline area(s) (e.g., entrepreneurship, HRM, economics or centre their chapter on School/Department/College approach– for instance, on the operations or practices within the Business School). Submissions that are progressed to the acceptance stage will be required to provide action points/recommendations for readers within the finalised chapter.

The final book will be no more than 90,000 words. The word limit for each contributing chapter will be confirmed once decisions have been made on accepted chapter contributions (see deadline for authors below).

Submission Process and Guidelines
Please use this form* to submit your abstract (no longer than 300 words) with a 200 word biography by 15th December 2023. For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Yaz Osho (y.osho@westminster.ac.uk).

Accepted book chapters will undergo a double-blind review process. Contributors to the book may also be requested to serve as reviewers on this project.

The book will be published in hardback and eBook initially, with a delayed paperback after 6-12 months. It will be available to purchase through EEP’s website and third-party vendors. The book will also be included on ElgarOnline which is available for institutions/academic libraries to purchase.

All contributing authors will receive a 50% author discount to use across our website. A digital copy of the book and a PDF of their chapter will also be offered to contributors.

Deadline for authors
The final manuscript will be submitted to Elgar in December 2024.
The following is a timeline from the call for expressions of interest to manuscript submission:

November 2023 – Expressions of interest for potential contributors opens
December 2023 – Call for expressions of interest closes
January/February 2024 – Selection and decisions on chapters to be included in the book and notification of acceptance of chapters and feedback to authors
(chapters will be double-blind peer reviewed and contributors to the book may also be requested to serve as reviewers on this project). Selected chapters may undergo subsequent rounds of reviewing/editing
June 2024 – Submission of full chapter
August 2024 Additional rounds of reviewing/editing of chapters
October 2024 – Submission of revised chapter
December 2024 – Book submission to publisher

About Elgar’s ‘How to Guides’
More is required of academics than ever before. They are expected to be high quality and productive researchers, inspirational teachers, experts at getting funding and brilliant at administration, all the while demonstrating relevance to practice.

The Elgar ‘How to…’ series provides inspiration and guidance to all the different challenges academics face to smooth their path from PhD student to mid-career scholar to tenured professor and department head or Dean. Reflective and engaging, our How to Guides will be the ideal companion for your career journey.

Key titles in Elgar’s ‘How to Guides’ series
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Edited by Tim Vorley, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean, Syahirah Abdul Rahman, Lecturer in Business and Management and Lauren Tuckerman, Lecturer in Business and Management, Oxford Brookes Business School, Oxford Brookes University, UK and Phil Wallace, Communications and Engagement Coordinator, Digital Futures team, University of Manchester, UK

How to Get Published in the Best Political Science and International Relations Journals: Understanding the Publishing Game
Marijke Breuning, Professor of Political Science, University of North Texas and John Ishiyama, Distinguished Research Professor of Political Science, University of North Texas, US

How to Keep your Research Project on Track: Insights from When Things Go Wrong
Edited by Keith Townsend, Professor of Human Resources and Employment Relations, Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing, Griffith University, Australia and Mark N.K. Saunders, Professor of Business Research Methods and Director of Global Engagement, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, UK

*Please note, you will need to sign into a Google account to access the form.