In this blog, Rosemarie McIlwhan and Stella Howden, both Associate Professors in the Learning and Teaching Academy, draw together reflections and actions from the Heriot-Watt Inspiring Learning New Year Lecture 2025.
The Heriot-Watt Inspiring Learning New Year Lecture 2025 was delivered by Prof. Leon Tikly on the topic of “Supporting Learning in a Multicultural Environment: The Richness and Challenge of Diverse Universities”. The lecture explored the increasing cultural diversity in UK higher education and why it is important to engage with it.
“Leon’s new year lecture was a great whirlwind tour on multiculturalism and diversity in the classroom and its macro contexts. This created a great basis for the dialogue where everyone shared their experiences and asked questions.” Silvia King, School of Social Sciences
Prof Leon Tikly
Situating this within the historical context of the colonial legacy of higher education, and the context of globalisation and capitalism, the lecture provided persuasive arguments for why higher education needs to understand and embrace cultural diversity. Prof. Tikly explored some the complexities of universities’ position in relation to just and sustainable futures, for example highlighting the complicity of the sector in reproducing racial and other inequalities, and continued ‘coloniality’ of knowledge. He also highlighted how we can help promote global citizenship, expand knowledge commons and promote equitable and transformative partnerships.
“The lecture offered valuable insights into how education can address systemic inequalities by embracing cultural and linguistic diversity. I found the discussion on the importance of decolonising the curriculum and addressing epistemic injustices particularly compelling. It highlighted the role higher education plays in shaping a more just and sustainable future.” Sami Haider, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences
The lecture concluded with a range of practical actions which educators and institutions should take to support learning in a multicultural environment and enhance the diversity of our institutions and knowledge.
Reflecting on the session, Mubbashar Mehmood (School of Engineering and Physical Sciences) commented:
“I realised that how important it is to decolonise the curriculum (DTC)… Considering HWUs diverse campuses, a question for me is how we deepen understanding of local norms and contexts, to support teaching and learning.”
Sacha Hasan, School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society added
“Inclusive education is not just about translating materials but about transforming pedagogies to incorporate diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and multiple ways of knowing, ensuring meaningful and equitable learning.”
Individual staff who attended noted a range of actions that they would be taking:
- Make sure that the language I’m using is easy to understand, simple words and examples that are common to all cultures.
- The lecture has inspired me to consider how I might incorporate more culturally diverse examples and anti-racist pedagogy into my engineering modules.
- I am exploring ways to encourage students to reflect on and share their perspectives, including the integration of cross-cultural group projects to promote collaborative learning.
- Work to decolonise the learning and teaching practise in my courses through storytelling, community-based learning, and collaborative knowledge production to foster a more inclusive and transformative educational experience.
- Care and respect is something where I am working on that can also help to improve ‘sense of belonging’ and improving safe learning environments.
- Continuously reflect, seek feedback, and refine your approach to ensure it remains inclusive, relevant, and responsive to the needs of diverse learners.
All staff are encouraged to take action such as:
- Watch “Supporting Learning in a Multicultural Environment: The Richness and Challenge of Diverse Universities” by Prof. Leon Tikly.
- Explore the literature used in the lecture, for example:
- Equality and Human Rights Commission. (2019). Tackling Racial Harassment: Universities challenged.
- Mbembe, A. 2023. Pathways of tomorrow: contribution to thinking commensurate with the planet. Education Research and Foresight Working Paper 32. Paris, UNESCO.
- Tikly, L. (2024). Transforming Knowledge and Research for Just and Sustainable Futures: Towards a new social imaginary for higher education.
- Study the short course Get to grips with the nature of the colonial legacy on our current state of knowledge and learning practices.
The annual Heriot-Watt Inspiring New Year Lectures are hosted by the Learning and Teaching Academy. The lectures draw in distinguished guest speakers to provide inspiration of current topics in learning and teaching at the start of the new year and new semester. Explore the full collection of New Year Lectures on the LTA YouTube channel.
Image credit:
Header: Inspiring Learning NY Lecture 2025 by LTA, CC-BY-NC-SA
Leon Tikly by Leon Tikly (c)
