PRPlayers

Empowering Leaders to Recognise and Manage Hidden Biases

Challenge

Birkbeck, University of London is committed to fostering an inclusive working and learning environment, in line with its mission that education should be accessible to all sections of society.

To uphold this commitment, Birkbeck sought to deliver an Unconscious Bias course to its Senior Management Team, aimed at increasing self-awareness and supporting more inclusive decision-making across the organisation.

The training focused on:

• Exploring how unseen and unspoken dynamics can limit individual and organisational performance

• Understanding how identifying and managing unconscious bias can lead to more effective leadership

 

Requirements

To deliver this bespoke session, PRP provided:

• A highly qualified unconscious bias trainer

• Two corporate role players with experience in diversity and inclusion training

• A skilled PRP facilitator experienced in Forum Theatre techniques

 

Solution

The session began with an expert-led presentation on the psychology of unconscious bias - what it is, how it forms, and strategies to mitigate it. The trainer also guided delegates through interactive exercises and discussions, helping them examine how bias can influence decisions at an individual and organisational level.

PRP’s role players then performed a scenario depicting a meeting between a student and a professor, where unconscious bias impacted the communication. Delegates observed the exchange and suggested ways the interaction could be improved with greater awareness and empathy.

This was followed by an interactive Forum Theatre session, where delegates were split into two groups. In each group:

• PRP role players performed three real-world workplace scenarios involving unconscious bias

• Delegates volunteered to step into the roles, testing their reactions in simulated situations

• Each performance was debriefed, with group discussion focused on what was handled well and what could be improved

This hands-on format enabled participants to experience bias in action and explore practical strategies for inclusive leadership.

 

Results

By the end of the training, all members of Birkbeck’s Senior Management Team had:

• Gained a deeper understanding of their own unconscious biases

• Developed practical tools to challenge assumptions and make fairer, more objective decisions

• Strengthened their capacity to foster inclusive, equitable environments for staff and students alike

The programme reinforced Birkbeck’s wider institutional goals around diversity, inclusion, and organisational awareness helping leaders model behaviour that supports the full potential of every individual.