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Diversity and inclusion work

How can higher education better support diverse students and staff to fulfil their potential? Find advice on university diversity and inclusion policies and actions that open pathways into higher education to non-traditional students and support student success for diverse cohorts by building inclusive institutions. Plus, learn how to achieve greater diversity at every level of academia and make everyone feel they belong.

Bridging the gap between academia and local communities

Institutions that integrate public engagement into their core mission will contribute to stronger, more connected communities. Here are lessons from running an on-campus science bazaar

Ellie-May Beaman

Oxford Brookes University

How to be empathetic when teaching first-year students

Creating a supportive and understanding learning environment can build trust, lessen anxiety and improve learning outcomes for students entering university. These practical actions will help educators incorporate empathy into their teaching

Abdulhusein Mizhir Almaamuri

Al-Mustaqbal University

A happy group of students pose for a photo

Diversity isn’t a one-off task, it’s a learning journey

With diversity practices under threat, where can universities go from here? Ibiyemi Omeihe and Kingsley O. Omeihe outline the path to truly inclusive learning

Ibiyemi Omeihe , Kingsley Omeihe

University of the West of Scotland

What matters to students’ sense of belonging?

Using an intersectional and decolonial lens and fostering the formation of a discipline-specific identity are some of the ways to make belonging the cornerstone, rather than merely an outcome, of higher education EDI initiatives

Salma Al Arefi

University of Leeds

Building a culture of care to support students’ mental health

Mental health support is a community-wide concern, which includes easy-to-access counselling, staff awareness and training, an empathetic environment and community hubs, writes Amy Epperley

Amy Epperley

Virginia Tech

Vibe Lounge event at Turner Sims at the University of Southampton

How civic arts programmes can make students feel welcome

Empowering students to co-create music events with peers can foster a sense of belonging in their university and city. Here’s how a student-community collective breathed new life into a 50-year-old venue

Jessica Santer, Carley Divish

University of Southampton

White privilege doesn’t exist for working-class men in higher education

Consider social class a protected characteristic and remove financial barriers to make HE accessible to white, working-class men, writes Mark Butterick

Mark Butterick

University of Leeds

Female university student walking to class

‘Why do we still timetable classes as if students don’t have lives outside university?’

As the block model has evolved from educational outlier to established practice, the questions it raises about how higher education is delivered are increasingly difficult to ignore, writes John Weldon

John Weldon

Victoria University

British sign language users deserve a place in higher education

BSL users are under-represented in academia. What can we do to foster an inclusive environment for them?

Astrid Smallenbroek

University of the West of Scotland

A group of students sat in a circle having a discussion

Starting a support group for students with disabilities

Supporting students with disabilities in regions where universities place less emphasis on equity, diversity and inclusion requires a proactive approach from staff. Establishing a student-led support group can make a significant impact

Asri Saraswati

The University of Indonesia

Imagine an age-inclusive university sector

Age inclusion should be part of universities’ mission, as well as their day-to-day operations. To not support staff and students at all stages of their academic life is an opportunity missed

Paul Harpur, Brooke Szücs, Nancy A. Pachana

The University of Queensland

Using literature to increase students’ empathy

Asking students to reflect on emotions through literary works can enhance their empathy. Here are some tried and tested methods

Rouli Esther

The University of Indonesia

Why transfer student programmes are key to expanding access

Students need and want flexible, affordable pathways into higher education, so universities need to support non-traditional avenues, remove barriers and take the opportunity to reach a more diverse cohort, writes Steve McLaughlin

Steven W. McLaughlin, Rick Clark

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities

Older students at their desks at a university

How can universities encourage active ageing?

As life expectancies rise, universities must prepare to welcome more older students. Here are some ways to ensure institutions are inclusive spaces for these learners

Husnul Fitri

The University of Indonesia

A computer science studeng coding on her laptop

Opening doors to computer science education

Ways to get more students from under-represented backgrounds into computer science, including offering joint undergraduate degrees and master’s degrees that require no tech background

Beth Mynatt

Northeastern University

Campus talks: what Indigenous knowledge brings to higher education

Two Indigenous university leaders explain how their institutions support First Nations’ participation in higher education, create space for community and build trust in postcolonial environments

Angie Bruce, Te Kawehau Hoskins

University of Manitoba, The University of Auckland

‘The experience of mixing with peers from other schools and engaging with university life is transformational’

By building a bridge between high school and university, outreach teams can foster aspiration and provide tangible pathways for students who might not otherwise pursue higher education

Gillian Lavercombe

University of the West of Scotland

Three lessons for interfaith engagement on campus

How can we build a religiously plural community on campus in times of global division? Ten years on from the LSE Faith Centre’s opening, James Walters reflects on three lessons learned

James Walters

The London School of Economics and Political Science

Older woman mentoring young Asian female university student

Intercultural communication between PhD supervisors and candidates

Culture goes beyond language and national origins, so doctoral supervisors need curiosity and an open mindset in their interactions to maximise performance and timely completion

Thuy Dinh

Western Sydney University

Three male students laughing and chatting

We need to get to know our international students better

To create inclusive classrooms for international students, we must address bias and challenge assumptions. Here’s how

Meg Maclean

The University of Edinburgh

Causeway of Williston Lake in British Columbia

Truth is necessary for reconciliation

Good intentions and generalisations can harm reconciliation in the classroom and academy, writes Daniel Sims

Daniel Sims

University of Northern British Columbia

Preparing students for careers in the creative industries

How interdisciplinary and experiential learning that is integrated into inclusive curricula can equip students for their future creative careers

Miaomiao Jia

The University of Bristol

Start the journey of anti-colonial work with these first steps

Many non-Indigenous staff are worried about doing anti-colonial work for fear of getting it wrong. Sue Sharpe shares four tips for getting started

Sue Sharpe

Australian National University

A student standing outside campus thinking

How can we make HE more accessible for those with criminal convictions?

Students with criminal convictions are often left out of higher education widening participation efforts. This resource challenges the narrative and offers strategies to support them

Jayne Price, Paul Taylor

University of Chester

Walls into walkways

Access to library spaces in preparation for exams is helping Dublin secondary school students find a pathway into university. Here’s how DCU Library has made them feel welcome

Aoife Murphy, Nuala Murray, Angela Laddaga

Dublin City University

A researcher in a lab looking at her computer

Here’s how we can support long-term research staff

Language use and reskilling are just two of the considerations for higher education institutions when it comes to supporting staff who don’t fit into the early career researcher category

Rachel James

The University of Edinburgh

Female artist in her studio smiling to camera

Neurodiversity-affirming education is key to supporting students into the creative industries

More needs to be done to support neurodivergent people seeking careers in the creative industries. Here are some strategies

Hannah Breslin

University of the Arts London

Hands holding books, illustration, diversify reading lists concept

A toolkit for working with students as partners

Bringing the student voice into the creation of a toolkit to decolonise and diversify university reading lists was a key purpose of a library project at the University of Chester

Charlotte Gleeson, Debbie Spencer, Jenny Warren

University of Chester

Co-creating PhD programmes for Black UK students offers a route to reparative justice

How to co-create, recruit and deliver PhD programmes for Black students: lessons from the University of Glasgow’s James McCune Smith (JMS) scholarship and development programme

Heather Lambie

University of Glasgow

Building a university library service where everyone feels welcome

Practical actions and meaningful community engagement can support libraries’ work to be more equitable, inclusive and sustainable. Here are ways to get started

Tracey Stanley, Sara Huws, Susan Cousins

Cardiff University

Black and Asian researchers working in a lab

Media training can combat low BME representation in academia

Advice from Imperial College London’s new media training academy to help BME researchers build their profiles and increase the reach of their research

Maxine Myers

Imperial College London

How we support accessible learning for students with disabilities

See how effective support, from the provision of counselling services, Autism Spectrum Disorder induction days and appropriate work experience opportunities, ensures students with a disability or long-term condition succeed during their studies and beyond

Conor Curran, Shauna McKeown, Will Plunkett

Queen’s University Belfast

Income should not determine outcomes for young musicians

If we accept the view that music education is only for the rich, it makes us complicit in stifling the life choices of talented artists, writes Jennie Henley

Jennie Henley

Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM)

Students standing and chatting outside of a campus building

How unlocking data maximises student support and success

See how using sophisticated dashboards and targeted interventions can enable institutions to deliver personalised, preventative, proactive and predictive student support

Aleata Alstad-Calkins

University of Roehampton

A group of business students brainstorming on bean bags

Empower the next generation with an inclusive approach to enterprise education

How to enable all our students, especially those from under-represented communities, to become entrepreneurs

Paul Dwyer

University of Westminster

How to embed inclusion into the curriculum

From getting buy-in at the highest level within an institution to clearly communicating inclusivity goals, Liz Jones outlines the foundations for putting inclusion at the heart of the curriculum

Liz Jones

University of Leicester

Students holding their graduation caps in the air

Working with local authorities to support asylum seekers into HE

How institutions can partner with local authorities to provide English language support to asylum seekers and refugees who wish to pursue higher education

Gabrielle Smallbone

Kingston University

Address the lack of research in Para sport by embedding students in doctoral programmes

The Embedded Scientist Approach places doctoral students in Para sport-focused research programmes. Vicky Goosey-Tolfrey explores the lessons she learned from implementing it

Vicky Goosey-Tolfrey

Loughborough University

Yooung woman studying at her latop at university

Ensuring online education is inclusive and accessible to all

Creating a culture of inclusivity where every student feels welcome and listened to is paramount. Here are some ways to achieve it

Mayela Beatriz Rodríguez Romo , Martha Fabiola Espinosa Mata, Abraham Esteban Gómez Coss

Monterrey Institute of Technology

Wilberforce House Museum, the birthplace of William Wilberforce, politician, slavery abolitionist and social reformer.

A model of authentic knowledge exchange to advance social inclusion

An example of how knowledge exchange can help remedy social injustice and bring forward previously overlooked perspectives, based on a project at Hull’s Wilberforce House Museum

Nick Evans

University of Hull

Embracing linguistic diversity and equity in global academic publishing

English operates as a gatekeeper in academia, determining who can access and contribute to the most prestigious platforms of knowledge production. We must create spaces where other languages can thrive, write three European academics

Javier Husillos, Carlos Larrinaga, Daniel Martinez

UPNA, Universidad de Burgos, HEC Paris

A group of people work around an office table

Embrace the potential of dyslexic thinkers for the future of research

Academia has made progress in recognising neurodiversity, but dyslexic academics still face significant barriers. Here’s how universities can embrace cultural competency to support and unlock the potential of dyslexic thinkers

Edward Ademolu

King’s College London

Children participating in outreach programme School Tasking

School Tasking: forget explosions, it’s all about the skills

Successful university outreach doesn’t always have to involve awe-inspiring explosions and colour-changing chemical reactions, but it should seek to hone key skills through dynamic and interactive activities that enable all children to shine

Ali Struthers, Alex Horne

The University of Warwick, Avalon Entertainment

Student holding her books smiling to camera

Giving voice and taking action: equity-driven leadership

Ways for leaders of community colleges to encourage collective practices that advance equity and social justice for their institutions and the wider community

Pamela L. Eddy , Kim VanDerLinden

William & Mary, University at Buffalo

A teacher giving a lecture to a diverse class full of students

Building equitable learning pathways in higher education

Higher education pathways that enable equitable opportunities for students to gain the required academic knowledge and skills for successful study are essential for widening participation

Anna Bennett

The University of Newcastle, Australia

A woman gives a talk to a room of people

How university leaders can hold firm on the glass cliff

In her book ‘Leading from the Margins’, Mary Dana Hinton considers the challenges facing the next generation of women and people of colour in leadership positions

Mary Dana Hinton

Hollins University

Parents with two sons posing for a photo

A guide to supporting student parents at university: part three

In the final piece in her series, Andy Todd explores ways personal tutors can help their tutees transition into university smoothly

Andy Todd

University of Chester

A guide to supporting student parents at university: part two

The second in a three-part series provides detailed, practical guidance on how student parents can be supported to succeed at UK universities

Andy Todd

University of Chester

A guide to supporting student parents at university: part one

The first in a three-part series provides an overview on how student parents can be supported to succeed at UK universities

Andy Todd

University of Chester

Business people high five each other in the workplace

Five ways to make higher education more accessible to neurodivergent people

By making workplaces more neurodivergent-friendly, we can improve the environment for everyone. Here are five ways to do it

Valen Lollato

Loughborough University

1 2 3 4

Diversity and inclusion work

.css-1ndcrd1{overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;max-height:108px;text-indent:0px;}Bridging the gap between academia and local communities

How to be empathetic when teaching first-year students

Diversity isn’t a one-off task, it’s a learning journey

What matters to students’ sense of belonging?

Building a culture of care to support students’ mental health

How civic arts programmes can make students feel welcome

White privilege doesn’t exist for working-class men in higher education

‘Why do we still timetable classes as if students don’t have lives outside university?’

British sign language users deserve a place in higher education

Starting a support group for students with disabilities

Imagine an age-inclusive university sector

Using literature to increase students’ empathy

Why transfer student programmes are key to expanding access

How can universities encourage active ageing?

Opening doors to computer science education

Campus talks: what Indigenous knowledge brings to higher education

‘The experience of mixing with peers from other schools and engaging with university life is transformational’

Three lessons for interfaith engagement on campus

Intercultural communication between PhD supervisors and candidates

We need to get to know our international students better

Truth is necessary for reconciliation

Preparing students for careers in the creative industries

Start the journey of anti-colonial work with these first steps

How can we make HE more accessible for those with criminal convictions?

Walls into walkways

Here’s how we can support long-term research staff

Neurodiversity-affirming education is key to supporting students into the creative industries

A toolkit for working with students as partners

Co-creating PhD programmes for Black UK students offers a route to reparative justice

Building a university library service where everyone feels welcome

Media training can combat low BME representation in academia

How we support accessible learning for students with disabilities

Income should not determine outcomes for young musicians

How unlocking data maximises student support and success

Empower the next generation with an inclusive approach to enterprise education

How to embed inclusion into the curriculum

Working with local authorities to support asylum seekers into HE

Address the lack of research in Para sport by embedding students in doctoral programmes

Ensuring online education is inclusive and accessible to all

A model of authentic knowledge exchange to advance social inclusion

Embracing linguistic diversity and equity in global academic publishing

Embrace the potential of dyslexic thinkers for the future of research

School Tasking: forget explosions, it’s all about the skills

Giving voice and taking action: equity-driven leadership

Building equitable learning pathways in higher education

How university leaders can hold firm on the glass cliff

A guide to supporting student parents at university: part three

A guide to supporting student parents at university: part two

A guide to supporting student parents at university: part one

Five ways to make higher education more accessible to neurodivergent people

Bridging the gap between academia and local communities