A UNIVERSITY course leader has won an award for “decolonising the curriculum”.

Course Leader for Make-up and Hair Design at Solent University, Sharon Lloyd, was presented with a Unity 101 award for her work last Friday.

Each year, Unity 101 Community Radio, present a special award to someone for achieving goals “over and above expectations”.

Solent University was the official partner of Unity 101’s annual anniversary awards, that took place digitally for the first time.

The course leader said she was “surprised and flattered” to receive the award.

Sharon said: “My work is really centralised around rethinking, reframing and reconstructing education by challenging institutional hierarchy and the monopoly on knowledge that fits a narrow view of “British values”.

“My aim is not to simply add a single module of study that relates to black and brown issues and concerns; that would be a form of ‘othering’.

“My goal is to stitch these issues and concerns across the fabric of the curriculum so that the teaching culture reflects the social culture- cohesive and part of as opposed to being other than or in addition to.

Sharon has been a course leader at the university for 14 years.

During this time she is said to have been a passionate advocate for change, using the curriculum to connect students with the community through projects that benefit both.

Sharon is also co-founder of the national group FACE (Fashion Academics Creating Equality).

Sharon says her interventions aren’t just about fitting in modules of study ‘here and there’ that acknowledge the presence of black and brown people.

“They are there to provide an educational inclusivity map that will guide undergraduates into making a difference.”