Miss Mata Ayoub

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Mata Ayoub
About
Teaching and learning
Research
Professional practice, knowledge exchange and impact
Leadership and management

About

As the School Director of Learning and Teaching for the School of Creative and Cultural Studies, I am experienced and take pride in recognising, disseminating, and providing informative comments and recommendations on best practice and innovation relating to the learning and teaching.

After completing my BA (Hons) in Media and Cultural Studies with Film, I went onto study a MA in Education where I focused upon Autism Spectrum Difference. I worked at WAC Performing Arts School for many years with young people with special needs, where I used Filmmaking to offer an alternative approach to learning and teaching. My professional practice both within and outside academia, and non-traditional academic background have given me a commitment to broadening access to Education.

I am chair of the Black Asian Minority Ethnic Minority Ethnic (BAME)/People of Colour (PoC) Staff Network. It makes me very proud that at Kingston University we have one of the most influential BAME/PoC networks of any university. The reason for this is not only the endeavours of its members but also the support from senior leadership/teams. For example, the chair is part of a fractional paid role and funding is provided to deliver projects that enhance the experience of BAME/PoC staff and students.

During my academic career, I have been commended for my award-winning contribution in learning and teaching at postgraduate and undergraduate levels, through gaining Senior Fellowship. I am also in receipt of the Kingston Learning and Teaching Fellow Award and was recognised for my commitment to ongoing professional development, and contributions to EDI that go well beyond my academic role and clearly support other staff.

My research interests include:

  • How to manage courageous conversations about race and characteristics in relation to the Equality Act 2010
  • Creating a KU Journal ‘Diversity in the Academy'.
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder.
  • Filmmaking approach as an alternative method for learning and teaching.

I am an Associate Committee Member on the HR board of Dimensions Group. Dimensions support people with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs out of institutions, helping them lead ordinary lives in their local communities.

My dedication to inclusivity is demonstrated through my contributions in facilitating courageous conversations and leading on race equality. I am working towards creating an Interdisciplinary Journal to support BME/PoC to participate, engage, and network in academia and beyond together with colleagues in KU

Academic responsibilities

School Director Learning & Teaching

Teaching and learning

Qualifications and expertise

  • BA (Hons) Media & Cultural Studies with Film
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
  • MA Education
  • Most Innovative Lecturer Award
  • SFHEA (Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy)
  • Kingston University Learning and Teaching Fellow Award

Undergraduate courses taught

Research

Research student supervision

Professional practice, knowledge exchange and impact

I am an ‘unbounded professional' that brings together learning from academic and community partnerships to create dialogue that may not have existed before. My professional practice highlights the many different types of knowledges needed to create further growth from the synergies of theses collaborations. I work on projects that might be perceived as an area of risk and ambiguity, but also contains hope of new possibilities.

My professional practice exists and thrives in different spaces. I am currently working on a KU journal Diverse Voices in the Academy (DVintheA). An online interdisciplinary journal for research by Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) / People of Colour (PoC) as well as by other researchers whose work relates to race and EDI within in academia and beyond DVintheA aims to raise the aspirations of not only BAME/PoC colleagues around research, but all colleagues that feel marginalised.

I am currently a member of the ELIA working group and hope to  create a Toolkit for EDI that supports the work of marginalised groups within organisation. The work will culminate into each of us presenting at ELIA Biennial Conference 2022.  https://elia-artschools.org/page/ELIABiennialHomepage

I am an expert in formative approaches and work with Alumni to present professional practice activities in innovative ways. Architecture in Colour (2020) is a project funded by KU Network Equality Champions. Its main aim was to bring in successful BAME Alumni to support progression and Employability on undergraduate programmes.

I have been a member of The Big Read for three years. In August 2021, I took part in Life Beyond the Comfort Zone where I discussed ‘Third space in HE' HTTPs://medialibrary.kingston.ac.uk/Play/5845

I have contributed a response ‘The post-race university thrives in ‘third space,' in The Culture Capital Exchange https://tcce.co.uk/2021/08/18/finding-a-place-in-the-future/

Professional and scholarly affiliations

  • ELIA EDI Working Group

Leadership and management

As Kingston University's School Director of Learning and Teaching (SDoLT), for the School of Critical Studies and Creative Industries and School of Arts, Culture and Communication, I am experienced and take pride in recognising, disseminating, and providing informative comments and recommendations on best practice and innovation relating to the learning and teaching o degree programmes. Within this role, I am responsible for leading on providing the best student experience possible from the initial design of modules, creating inclusive learning opportunities, assembling documentation for validation, staff development and monitoring the quality assurance processes. Within this role, I am responsible for leading on providing the best student experience possible from the initial design of modules, creating inclusive learning opportunities, assembling documentation for validation, staff development and monitoring the quality assurance processes.

As the chair of the Staff Network, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and racial equality are at the heart of my practice. As part of governance, I am involved with the EDI committee, Network for Equality Champions, the Race Equality Charter Mark, Athena Swan. My current work in the BAME staff network focusses on embedding anti-racism strategies into business-as-usual mechanisms at KU. Part of that work involves developing perspectives on what it means to decolonise the curriculum in HE and re-imaging recruitment procedures. 

As chair of the Kingston School of Arts Black Minority Ethnic Alumni Advisory Group (BMEAAG), we recognise that outreach work is important in ensuring that potential students can feel valued and safe to enter HE. The group hopes to create a greater dialogue with students in Years 10/11, and colleges about creative practice to increase diversity within art and design-based courses. Furthermore, the BMEAAG, are collaborating with KU Learning, Teaching and Enhancement Centre (LTEC) to review the Inclusive Curriculum Framework (ICF) with an anti-racist lens and engage staff in narratives around decolonising. 

Qualifications and expertise

  • Different Leaders Executive Development Programme (Stellar HE)