Key details

Location
Organisation premises
Online
Study Delivery
Face-to-face Online
Course Duration
Half-day session to a two-day block

About Re:Tension and the Aftermath Debate

Re:Tension is a short 20-minute film that follows Thapelo, a bright and capable university student, on a day where he is unwittingly forced to question the judgements of his tutors and peers, and delve deeper into his own actions, choices and beliefs. Re:Tension addresses the topic of institutional racism and the gap in student retention amongst BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) students within British universities.

The film was inspired by analysing statistical data that highlighted the unexplained dropout rate of BAME students. The film attempts to provide a real insight into unconscious racial harassment within the higher education system and micro-aggressions that often go unnoticed.

The toolkit, developed by Associate Professors Syra Shakir and Ricardo Barker, uses Re:Tension and the aftermath debate to openly challenge racism and discrimination. It encourages group discussion around accountability and responsibility, uses a theoretical model titled ‘The Forced Silence’, and Dr Sean Walton provides an exploration of Critical Race Theory in the fight against discrimination. 

Delivery, attendees and costs

How is it delivered?

A half-day online session delivered by Syra Shakir, Ricardo Barker and Sean Walton. Following the screening of Re:Tension (run time: 20 minutes), Syra, Ricardo, and Sean will begin the aftermath debate. The audience will be split into groups with opportunities to discuss the film, how it made them feel and feedback to the group. 

Attendees will be encouraged to share personal experiences and reflect on racial inequality in their institutions. It is anticipated that the University will come away with actions that can be implemented

Who should attend?

All staff members – lecturers, researchers, professional services, Leadership and Executive teams – we can offer separate sessions for different schools and departments if required.

All students, from any level and any subject background, including alumni.

How much does it cost?

Details available upon enquiry. Please contact us at retension@leedstrinity.ac.uk

An internationally recognised programme

Best Presentation Prize for Race, Ethnicity and Education

BERA 2024

Outstanding contribution to equality and diversity

Nomination, THE Times Higher, November 2021

Published as a best practice toolkit

International Diversity Film Affairs Education, Germany, July 2022

Educational Film from A University

Nomination, Learning on Screen Awards, Apr 2021

Testimonials

"The film and toolkit have taught me that as an institution, we need to think about colour and race separately by looking at the individual and what they need. Labelling students and staff is contentious,s and discussing how it is a wider problem helps with breaking down these labels."

Member of university senior executive


"I am writing to thank you again for sharing your incredible workshop, knowledge and passion with us. The event has received extremely positive feedback (including from our Vice Chancellor), with some staff suggesting that it will have a profound impact on their practice going forward."

Head of an academic faculty


"Please accept my sincerest and most heartfelt thanks for delivering this great, great session- meaningful, impactful and honest. The content was brilliant, as I am sure you may have already captured through feedback, and the delivery was so smooth and seamless. I had tears watching the film, but it is so resonating, what we hear daily from our members, and I, as a PhD student finishing my thesis, have seen and sometimes lived through in my many years at my institution.”

Postgraduate student

Further reading

Shakir, S. (2025), "No end and no beginning; race equity in higher education", Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Vol. 44 No. 1, pp. 9-25. https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-05-2023-0171

Building an inclusive learning community to deliver a race equality curriculum
Ricardo Barker and Syra Shakir reflect on how to set up a curriculum that engages everybody in conversations about race equality.

Book a session

For more information or to book your session, please contact us

Email the team