As part of the University’s efforts to progress Equity, Diversity and Inclusion priorities at Loughborough, EDI Services invites Schools, Professional Services, individuals and Staff Networks to bid for funding to carry out activities aligned to our strategic objectives. More information about EDI Services funding can be found on the EDI Services webpage.  

Last year, University Teacher Dr Chukwuma Ogbonnaya and other colleagues from Wolfson School successfully received funding to host an event for Engineering staff and students. In this blog post, Chukwuma tells us more about the success of this initiative and the impact it had on members of our University community.  

My idea to implement an Engineering Dance and Drama event was proposed as “a culmination of diversity, inclusion, creativity and relaxation”. It was contextualised within the University’s EDI Core Plan to “…create a culturally vibrant student community that benefits from the inclusion of students from across the globe …” and to operationalise welcoming, inclusive and vibrant communities under the International Engagement and Impact Core Plan. I wanted to bring staff and postgraduate research students together from across our three engineering Schools to enjoy UK, Nigerian, Indian and Chinese cultures –through music, dance, drama and food.  

After we were successfully awarded funding, a team of Wolfson colleagues met to design the event (I would like to extend special thanks to Professor Paul Conway, Professor Jenny Harding, Grace Jacobs, Bhav Mistry, and the extended Wolfson team).  

We decided the theme of the event should be STEAM: Adding Arts to STEM. This would reflect the intersections between STEM fields with the arts. After deciding a date to host the event (6 June 2025) and the initial format, we approached we Professor Chris Goodier and Dr Elizabeth Ratcliffe who offered their support and obtained approval from the Deans of the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering and the School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering, respectively. We also welcomed other members of our University to join our team, including LU Arts and the University Choir. This was very helpful and remains a pivotal moment for me in implementing the inaugural Engineering Dance and Drama event.  

Celebrating the success of the event 

Originally, we set a target of 50 staff and 20 Doctoral Researchers from across the three engineering schools to attend the event. Another measure of success would be realised if more than 50% of the participants stated that they would be likely to attend another Engineering Dance and Drama event.  

I’m delighted to say 143 members of staff registered for the event, and the verbal feedback received on the day was all positive. A feedback form was circulated after the event and all the respondents stated they would be interested in attending the event again next year.  

I would like to take a moment to give a special shout out to my colleagues Grace Jacobs and Bhav Mistry – they did a fantastic job resourcing what we needed for the event and coordinating it to the finest details. For example, they ensured that the tablecloths, bounties and sweets matched the colours of the national flags of the UK, Nigeria, India and China.  

I also want to say thank you to Tandrima Bhattacharjee, who did a fantastic job as the host of the event and also as our storyteller arranging performances starting from Africa (which is believed to be the cradle of humanity to India, China, and then the UK). The henna art design by Sareeta offered at the event was a special touch, and the food and drinks provided by Burleigh Court Conference Centre and Hotel helped to emphasise the significant cultural importance of the event.  Thank you, Olivia Wallace, for capturing the moments and to all the performers. 

It was brilliant to see an idea come through from imagination to reality and to take memories with me. Together as engineering Schools, we hope and look forward to expanding the event in the future to include other Schools and student societies across the University so we can celebrate diverse and authentic cultural heritage even more, helping to enhance Loughborough’s reputation for a vibrant and inclusive community.