Throughout March 2026, an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) project team at the University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) delivered a series of student‑centred initiatives aimed at strengthening inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership across the campus community. Made possible through funding by Student Experience and led by Dr New Siu Yee from the School of Pharmacy, the project highlighted the essential role that student clubs, societies, and individual leaders play in fostering a welcoming and respectful campus environment.
The month‑long EDI initiatives culminated on 30 March 2026 with the EDI Award Ceremony and an EDI Leadership Workshop, alongside a broader emphasis throughout March on appreciation, belonging, and inclusive engagement.
Fostering a Culture of Appreciation: Thankful Notts – Share the Shine
As part of the March EDI initiatives, the project featured Thankful Notts: Share the Shine, a student‑led appreciation campaign co‑organised with six student societies: ACE (Action, Compassion, Empathy) Society, Bioscience Students in Nottingham (BSN), the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Nottingham Economics Society (NES), and the Nottingham Photography Society (NPS). The initiative was designed to encourage kindness, recognition, and positive connection across the campus community.
Students and staff were invited to submit messages of appreciation recognising peers and colleagues who had made a meaningful difference to their university experience. Many heart‑warming stories were shared across both the student and staff communities, reflecting everyday acts of support, mentorship, and compassion. Selected messages were paired with small tokens of appreciation and shared across campus, while a Wall of Gratitude display at the Student Association Circle provided a visible and accessible space for collective reflection.
The initiative generated strong engagement from both students and staff, contributing to a positive campus atmosphere and reinforcing a sense of belonging through everyday acts of recognition. A highlight video capturing the spirit and impact of Thankful Notts: Share the Shine is available here.
Celebrating Student‑Led Inclusion: The EDI Award
The EDI Award was introduced to celebrate student clubs and societies that actively promote inclusive practices through their internal culture and activities. Applications were evaluated through a structured and transparent assessment process by an EDI project committee comprising Dr New Siu Yee, Professor Sandy Loh, Assistant Professor Dr Shi Hui Cheng, and Sophia Hanim from Wellbeing.
The award ceremony, held at BA64, provided a platform to showcase exemplary inclusive student leadership across campus. The top three recipients were SEEN (First Place), Edu22 (Second Place), and UN Youth (Third Place). All participating societies also received tokens of appreciation in recognition of their efforts to create inclusive and welcoming environments.
During the ceremony, Professor Sandy Loh, Chair of the Organisation for Women in Science (OWIS) Malaysia, introduced OWIS and its mission, raising awareness of broader EDI networks and opportunities beyond the university.
Developing Inclusive Student Leaders
Following the EDI Award ceremony, an EDI in Leadership Workshop was conducted on the same day to support students in leadership roles. The workshop brought together student society leaders and nominated representatives from schools and departments, reflecting a wide range of leadership experiences across campus.
Facilitated by Ms Kalpana Devi Subramaniam from Trueway Consultants, the workshop focused on equipping participants with practical leadership tools while strengthening awareness of inclusive practices in diverse team settings.
Through interactive discussions, group activities, and peer‑sharing sessions, participants explored how inclusive leadership can enhance team dynamics, decision‑making, and student engagement. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction, highlighting the relevance and practicality of the workshop in addressing real‑world leadership challenges within student communities.
Towards a More Inclusive Student Community
Taken together, Thankful Notts: Share the Shine, the EDI Award, and the EDI Leadership Workshop reflect a holistic, student‑centred approach to equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout March. By encouraging appreciation, recognising inclusive practices, and building leadership capacity, these initiatives contribute to a campus culture grounded in respect, belonging, and shared responsibility.
These activities form part of a broader cross‑campus EDI project aimed at strengthening student wellbeing and inclusive engagement at UNM, supported by Student Experience.
Posted on 24th April 2026