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.

Universities as drivers of social mobility spotlight image

Universities as drivers of social mobility

Guidance on supporting the role of higher education in improving students’ lives, regardless of their starting point, including ways to assist students experiencing financial difficulties, help them build meaningful connections and develop workplace skills

Campus contributors, Laura Duckett

Campus

Student partnership programmes can’t be copy-and-paste – and here’s why

Co-creation is not a template. Here are three lessons on approaching it from a more reflective, inclusive angle

Kevin Brazant, Mia Nembhard

University of the Arts London, London Metropolitan University

It’s good to talk: the power of action learning sets in educator development

Protected time for peer questioning can help educators rethink teaching challenges, build collegial relationships and develop inclusive practice. Find out how to embed action learning sets in academic development

Vanessa Mar-Molinero

University of Southampton

Black female teacher with adult students handing out papers

Using classroom charters to support inclusive learning: four approaches

Drafting a classroom charter brings students into conversations about expectations, belonging and participation that often prove more valuable than the resulting document

Elodie Duché

York St John University

A group of students having a discussion in class

A checklist for inclusive classroom discussions

Many students stay quiet in class discussions because they are unsure about how to contribute. A simple checklist can help

Ya Zhang, Shuhao Zhang, Yu Liu

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

White male professor in discussion with diverse group of students in university amphitheatre

Whose knowledge counts? EDI’s role in securing linguistic and epistemic justice

Academic conventions in speaking and writing English can disadvantage first-generation, working-class and multilingual students and scholars. Here are some practical ways to make these norms transparent, negotiable and open to critique

Dylan Williams

Queen Mary University of London

A patient group is engaged in discussion

Four ways to create more inclusive patient and public involvement in research

Relying on established patient groups or advertising in the same way for public contribution often means research can suffer from blind spots. Here’s how to spread your reach for a more diverse cohort – and ultimately, more relevant work

Gary Hickey

University of Southampton

Chinese students working together at a laptop

From silence to engagement in Sino-foreign education

Don’t just view silence as a problem to solve, recognise its implications and support students to develop the confidence to participate at their own pace, say Zhou Ge and Irina Shcheglova. Here’s how

Zhou Ge, Irina Shcheglova

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

‘Reflective learning is becoming a meaningless buzzword’

Lip service to reflective learning is eroding its potential for confronting ingrained beliefs and encouraging students to explore new ways of thinking, writes Ella Houston. Here, she shares practical strategies for promoting the transgressive aspects of reflection

Ella Houston

Liverpool Hope University

Staff and students strategising with Post-It notes on a transparnt screen

How to prepare, motivate and reward students who engage in EDI work

EDI work can take a psychological toll on students. Thoughtful discussion and engagement strategies are key, as are psychological support and remuneration, say a medical school team

Lois Haruna-Cooper , Emma Kelley , William Shem Braithwaite

UCL

Multiracial group of university students in a study group

Teaching strategies to support international students in diverse classrooms

How can we design teaching that better supports international students to succeed within higher education? Here are teaching tips to boost classroom practice for the inclusion and benefit of all students

Elida Cena, Gülseli Baysu, Judith Wylie

Queen’s University Belfast

Ming Cheng, professor of higher education at Sheffield Hallam University, talks about microaggressions in UK higher ed

Campus Talks: Why universities need to start taking microaggressions seriously

Drawing on research into the experiences of Chinese academics in the UK, we hear how these subtle but powerful discriminatory acts manifest in universities and what could be done to address them

Ming Cheng, Miranda Prynne

Sheffield Hallam University

A guide to identifying and addressing bias in higher education

A guide to recognising and addressing bias in higher education

Learn about the many ways bias manifests across higher education and discover strategies to reduce its impact – from mindful language and critical thinking to bias-aware teaching and hiring practices

Campus contributors, Laura Duckett

Campus

A student raises a hand in the classroom

How to spot bias in your own teaching – and what to do about it

Bias can materialise as a set of habits no one thought to question. Here’s how to look at your own teaching with clear eyes

Dami Folayan

Arden University

Muslim law students discussing a case in class

How can we ease Muslim law students’ transition into the workplace?

Muslim law students might feel a sense of belonging at law school but what happens when they enter the profession? Maria Bhatti and Sandy Noakes outline tips for making that transition more inclusive

Maria Bhatti, Sandy Noakes

Western Sydney University, University of Sydney

Candidate in wheelchair in job interview

Beyond lived experience: choosing effective candidates for identified roles

Roles that centre diversity, equity and inclusion research and practice should be filled by candidates with lived experience. For recruitment teams outside these communities, however, it is not always clear what to consider or what to ask in an interview

Brooke Szücs

The University of Queensland

A woman wearing a headscarf in an office

Beyond access: what Muslim women can teach universities about inclusion

Universities have made significant progress with widening participation, but access alone does not create belonging. Here are four ways to build environments that recognise and support Muslim women

Amena Amer

UCL

Man tries to find his way through a maze

What students need to learn beyond the curriculum

Universities cannot assume students know how to engage in self-directed study and campus life. Clear direction and signposting can help arrivals flourish inside and outside the classroom, colleagues at Manchester Metropolitan University write

Katharina De Vita, Lucy Pittaway, Melanie McHale

Manchester Metropolitan University

‘Belonging should not mean only that students feel welcome’

Universal design for learning ensures students are not only present but able to participate. Taking her cue from a South Korean television series, Sunah Cho uses three questions to address the ‘kkakdugi’ problem in higher education

Sunah Cho

University of British Columbia

Black students talking amongst themselves

Recognise what Black African international students bring to the classroom

How academics can move beyond deficit narratives and help Black African international students leverage strengths they may not even be aware of

Patrice Seuwou

University of Northampton

Two lab workers discussing something on a screen

Paid research internships can level the playing field for bioscience students

Research experience is invaluable – but only if students can afford to take part. Learn about a scheme that supports under-represented students

Richard Bowater, Carl Harrington, Anne Graham, Cathie Martin

The University of East Anglia

Male student working at laptop surrounded by images of documents

How document-grounded AI can support inclusive learning

When educators restrict an AI model to a defined collection of trusted inputs, they can introduce students to academic materials in a flexible and interactive way. Here, Imran Khan shares five practical insights

Imran Khan

Birmingham City University

A new students arriving at his accommodation with a box of belongings

Stop making assumptions about students

By designing assumptions out of the welcome experience, we can better prepare students to navigate the transition to university. Kelly Edmunds and Lucy Kemp offer practical strategies

Kelly Edmunds , Lucy Kemp

The University of East Anglia

University staff on laptops listening to a speaker out of shot

How to build an inclusive curriculum design toolkit

Educators often understand the benefits of inclusivity but lack the skills to embed it in courses and curricula. An inclusive design toolkit can bridge institutional ambition and everyday teaching practice

Emma Whewell, Sian Davies-Vollum, Faith Tucker, Helen Tiplady

University of Northampton

Racial diversity among university staff spotlight image

How universities can boost staff diversity

Advice for supporting racial diversity among university staff and faculty that better reflects the student population and society as a whole

Campus contributors

Campus

‘Effective outreach closes the gap between understanding and action’

University outreach is often measured in terms of reach and participation. But information alone rarely changes behaviour. The real test is whether people do something differently as a result

Mike Gutter

Virginia Tech

Why diversity literacy is a research skill

As funders demand more inclusive and internationally collaborative projects, researchers and research managers need the skills to turn good intentions into meaningful practice, says Jakob Feldtfos Christensen

Jakob Feldtfos Christensen

Independent academic

Making space for Black voices in higher education

While higher education has talked a lot about EDI, are Black academics noticing the difference in their day-to-day lives? A conference gave them a space to reflect

Yaz Osho

University of Westminster

Podcast graphic featuring Lorraine Coghill

Campus Talks: How co-creation and interdisciplinarity enrich university outreach

An expert in science engagement explains why a people-centred approach, curiosity and creativity are key to sharing knowledge with schools and the community in innovative and inspiring ways

Lorraine Coghill, Eliza Compton

Durham University

Four ways that study tours can put decolonisation into action

Instead of discussing decolonisation in theoretical terms, engaging with those theories in practice via a study tour can be transformative. Here’s how

Kam Kaur, Welyne Jeffrey Jehom

Adelaide University, University of Malaya

Indigenous Mexican women dressed in colourful traditional clothes

How to turn humanities students into advocates

How a design thinking approach to a community project helped students raise awareness about racism against Indigenous women in Mexico

Eunice Costilla Cruz , Adriana García Domínguez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A group of multicultural students in the classroom

Help students become language mediators to bridge knowledge gaps

How mediation, translanguaging and a class contract can develop understanding, prevent clashes and promote appreciation for diversity in multilingual classrooms

Mazal Oaknín

UCL

Three international students sitting in front of a landmark

Make multiculturalism an enriching learning experience

Teaching in a multicultural programme means serving not only as an academic but also as a host, says Raúl Martínez Flores, who offers tips on making international students feel welcome

Raúl Martínez Flores

CETYS Universidad

Team members place their hands in a circle

The civic university: move beyond symbolism to real responsibility

Is higher education’s civic engagement becoming performative? Here’s how to embed it in teaching, research and governance

Sobia Razzaq

University of Westminster

Muslim college-age female students in discussion

Rethinking how researchers can deliver preventive healthcare outreach

For community outreach to be effective, researchers need to listen to the target group, build trust and connect the health information they share to participants’ daily lives

Nadera Assim

University of Southampton

New to schools outreach? Here’s how to get started

Tips for delivering outreach experiences that build on existing knowledge and help young people make informed decisions about their future – whether they include higher education or not

Carl Harrington

The University of East Anglia

Colourful speech bubbles with photos of mouths against a black background

Support student success in the multilingual classroom

Guidance on teaching international student cohorts with varying language proficiency and on creating inclusive classrooms where multilingual students can all participate and flourish

Campus contributors, Laura Duckett

Campus

An illustration of students speaking different languages

How language surveys can shape a multilingual university

A biennial language survey changed how one university thought about linguistic diversity – and helped give students a voice. Here’s how

Katherine Mansfield

University of Westminster

Four changes to help improve multilingual students’ writing

Without academic writing instruction, multilingual students are more likely to rely on AI. Making these small shifts can better support them

Bridget Goodman

Nazarbayev University

Move beyond one-size-fits-all education for international students

Build a more inclusive and linguistically sensitive learning environment for global students with these tips

Anthony Manning

Arden University

A student and teacher sitting at a desk discussing an assignment

Simple ways to support students with ADHD

What you should know about how students with ADHD learn and how to take a strengths-based approach

Karen Costa

Lesley University

Secondary students solving a maths problem on a whiteboard

Widen access to higher education by improving school attainment

With school attainment a key driver of progression to university, outreach must go beyond traditional interventions to widen access. Matthew Lucas offers five evidence-led ways to design educationally robust programmes

Matthew Lucas

UCL

A disco ball suspended from the ceiling of a dimly lit room

What a disco ball teaches us about learning and leadership

By acknowledging that perspectives are evolving and relational, educators and leaders can encourage contribution and connection without sacrificing what makes people distinct

Lauren Flannery

The University of East Anglia

Podcast graphic featuring Lisa Diamond of the University of Utah

Campus Talks: Why being a queer researcher ‘means speaking truth to power’

An LGBTQ+ scientist explains how funding cuts as a result of the US administration’s attacks on DEI-related research gave rise to a ‘gonzo science’ project and why data collection is its own form of resistance

Lisa Diamond, Eliza Compton

The University of Utah

From polarisation to connection: counterspaces and reverse mentoring in higher education

It takes an intersectional approach, empathy and willingness to listen to cultivate affirming environments for marginalised groups, says Mazal Oaknín

Mazal Oaknín

UCL

Group of international students in a lecture all

Why ethical internationalisation starts with listening

If the UK higher education sector wants its transnational education partnerships to be socially responsible, academically rigorous and politically resilient, universities must prioritise co-creation and cultural literacy, writes Valentina Cardo

Valentina Cardo

University of Southampton

How useful are smart glasses in improving accessibility in higher education?

Smart glasses have the potential to support learning for disabled students, but this technology also comes with significant privacy concerns. Helen Nicholson-Benn looks at how to balance functional benefits with data security and safeguarding

Helen Nicholson-Benn

Jisc

LGBTQ+ inclusion that extends beyond Pride

Advice for ensuring LGBTQ+ staff and students feel seen and supported across teaching, research and all other facets of university life throughout the year

Campus contributors, Eliza Compton

Campus

Man sitting alone in a state of distress or worry

Understanding autistic grief to support staff and students through loss

Autistic grief can present differently from traditional understandings of bereavement. Imogen Varle explores how to better recognise and support autistic staff and students experiencing loss

Imogen Varle

De Montfort University

A group of students sitting at a table having a discussion

What we learned from building a queer-straight university alliance

How an anonymous email sparked a growing understanding of what it means to be a queer ally in higher education

Bhawana Shrestha, Sushobhan Chimoriya

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

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