Times Higher Education award win for inclusive lab system
The University of Bradford has won a prestigious Times Higher Education Award 2024 for a project that allows disabled students access scientific laboratories.
The system, known as 'Managing Risk for Impaired Laboratory Users' (MaRiLU) won the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion category and was described by judges as "incredibly impactful".
The submission was made by Dr Sobia Kauser and disability advisor Stuart Walker.
Judges said: "Dr Kauser and Mr Walker's work demonstrates how a creative approach to longstanding equity and inclusion issues can drive positive change for the whole university community."
Dr Kauser said: "I am really pleased for the university to receive such an accolade. It is also recognition for all the hard work that went into the project."
Stuart Walker: "We were really pleased and humbled to have won this award. We we really pleased with the judges' comments. It's wonderful news for our university to be recognised in this category and it reflects on the hard work of all those who contributed to the project."
What is MaRiLU?
MaRILU is an innovative digital risk management and assessment system. It provides a uniform method for implementing laboratory adjustments for disabled and temporarily impaired laboratory users. MaRILU is an inclusive curriculum approach and is in line with both the University’s equality, diversity and inclusion and Learning Teaching and Student Experience strategies.
Students complete an online form, outlining barriers they face and solutions that work for them. This updates the MaRILU database and informs appropriate staff. Students are invited to an online or in-person meeting where their experience is valued and discussed, and a risk assessment co-produced.
MaRILU’s automation ensures that completed risk assessments and adjustments are automatically forwarded to the student and relevant staff on a need-to-know basis. This guarantees all staff responsible for implementing them are aware.
Two shortlistings
The University of Bradford was shortlisted for TWO awards this year, the other being in the Outstanding Contribution to Community category, with its world-leading Me in Dementia module, run by Drs Clare Mason and Danielle Jones, the first time a university course has been co-designed and taught by Experts by Experience.