Building Social Justice-oriented Resilience for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Higher Education: Propositions from Hong Kong


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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/1896

Keywords:

diversity, inclusion, ethnicity, higher education, social justice, Hong Kong

Abstract

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) rhetoric and initiatives are gaining attention in Asian higher education. Yet, these are still underexplored in terms of their potential to bring about cohesive campus climates. As higher education institutions admit students from diverse backgrounds, there is room for examining how DEI might be leveraged to support growing student learning needs, particularly in contexts where cultural diversity is not the norm. Using Hong Kong as an example, this paper probes the genesis of DEI initiatives and sources of deficit thinking in higher education with reference to the experiences of ethnic minority (EM) students. It proposes a conceptualization of resilience theory from a social justice lens to counter deficit thinking and racism, which helps locate DEI initiatives in building culturally inclusive environments.

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Author Biographies

Jan Gube, The Education University of Hong Kong

Dr. Jan Gube is Assistant Professor at the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and Assistant Dean (International Engagement), Faculty of Education and Human Development, The Education University of Hong Kong. He takes an interest in understanding and supporting how schools and civil society might leverage cultural differences in fostering equitable and caring learning environments. Jan’s research engages with issues of diversity, race and ethnicity, particularly how their interrelations shape curriculum and pedagogy.

Gizem Arat

Dr. Gizem Arat obtained her Ph.D. from the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong in 2017 and Master degree in Social Work from the School of Social Work, University in Pittsburgh in 2010. She worked as a Post-doctoral fellow in the Jockey Club Lab for Cultural Diversity Study in The University of Hong Kong 2017-2019. She is an Associate Professor Dominican University since August 2023. Her research interests include the promotion of ethnically diverse young populations, positive youth development, resilience, cultural humility in higher education, cultural diversity and multiculturalism.

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2024-11-06

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Gube, J., & Arat, G. (2024). Building Social Justice-oriented Resilience for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Higher Education: Propositions from Hong Kong. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, 11(4), 60–76. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/1896

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Received 2023-11-02
Accepted 2024-09-13
Published 2024-11-06