Equity in higher education

Find out how to ensure that all students and staff within higher education have an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of individual challenges or varied educational backgrounds. Equity is about ensuring university support and policies enable everyone to flourish, taking into account the wide range of differing needs across a campus community, as these resources explain.

A young woman holds a megaphone at a protest

Why we should teach students about academic freedom

Empower students with both a theoretical understanding of academic freedom and hands-on experience in advocating for those stripped of it. Here’s how

Kate Murphy, Tony Williams, Suzy Killmister

Monash University

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

Female high school student in lab wearing a white coat

From outreach to infrastructure: how academics can support a lasting STEM pipeline

Inspiring future generations of STEM scholars demands more than just a one-time introduction to science or engineering. Lasting impact comes from ongoing learning experiences, mentorship and institutional support, writes Keisha Simmons

Keisha Simmons

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities

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

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

A student at his desk speaking to a professor

How to challenge problematic competence standards

We can make assessment fairer by learning how to spot issues with competence standards and supporting students to challenge them. Here’s how

Jess Jasper, Harriet Crooks

The University of East Anglia

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

Why faculty support should look more like a writing centre

Why do institutions invest in peer writing support for students but not for staff? Anne Brubaker makes the case for a more formalised approach to faculty writing support

Anne Brubaker

Wellesley College

Two female scientists consulting a document in a lab

Routes to equity for mothers in STEM research

How institutions can help fix the STEM ‘leaky pipeline’ by addressing maternity bias, improving progression opportunities and equipping mothers with financial literacy

Rachel James

The University of Edinburgh

Katerina Standish is this week's Campus Talks guest

Campus Talks: Why it takes more than a PhD to become a good doctoral supervisor

An advocate for professional development of graduate supervision skills shares advice for new and seasoned research supervisors as well as what institutions can do to foster community and excellence

Katerina Standish, Eliza Compton

University of Northern British Columbia

Developing more nuanced research on and for LGBTQ+ staff

Strengthening data collection on LGBTQ+ staff supports fairer, more responsive equality policies. Emma Jones and Simon Lock outline strategies

Emma Jones, Simon Lock

UCL

Young black woman looking at screen with help from older black woman, job shadow concept

Five steps to prepare neurodivergent students for the world of work

Students with neuro-cognitive conditions often face significant challenges when making the transition into the workplace. So, how can higher education institutions ensure these students are ready to launch their professional lives?

Sophie Hennekam, Barbara Haddou

Audencia

The power of the nudge to move EDI from strategy to practice

Nudges make the inclusive option easier for staff to take. Find five tips to embed them here

Teslim O. Bukoye

University of Bath

A female academic at her desk with her head in her hand

Start with men: universities must do more on menopause education

Universities have the research capacity, the educational mission and the moral obligation to lead on menopause education. It is time for men in academia to step up, drive the conversation and share the burden, writes Mark Butterick

Mark Butterick

Independent academic

Let’s build a higher education system that works for first-generation students

Higher education expects first-gen students to conform to a rigid structure that doesn’t suit their lives. Here’s how to offer flexibility instead

Jerid Counterman

Colorado State University Global

A mother on her laptop while her son plays next to her

Why flexibility is essential for accessible teaching

Rigid course structures can shut students out. Designing for flexibility helps ensure that those juggling work, care and study have a fair chance to succeed

Rocío Elizabeth Cortez Márquez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Businessman doing online study at laptop while eating takeaway lunch

Why flexibility is now central to student success

Flexible and truly engaging online study are key for students with jobs or caring responsibilities. Pauline Bedford explains how institutions can go with the flow

Pauline Bedford

Walbrook Institute London

Black male student looking downcast in university corridor

Whose vulnerabilities get seen? Whose get missed?

When student circumstances fall outside standard support categories, their difficulties can deepen. This means hardship of groups such as caregivers or international students grows quietly, until it becomes much harder to address

Sorush Sepehr, David Waller, Ranjit Voola, Subhasis Ray

University of Technology Sydney, University of Sydney, XLRI Xavier School of Management

Male teacher working with multiracial primary school class

Four steps to embed anti-racism into teacher training

By exposing incoming educators to anti-racist principles early in training, universities better prepare them to promote fairness, critical thinking and social justice, writes Jordan Allers

Jordan Allers

Cardiff Metropolitan University

How universities can tackle misogyny in the age of the manosphere

From subtle undermining to overt hostility, misogyny is rearing its ugly head in higher education classrooms, fuelled by online manosphere content. Addressing it requires clearer boundaries, training and a willingness to confront harmful behaviour early

Joanna Lewis

The London School of Economics and Political Science

Older engineer working with an engineering apprentice

How to run effective industry-enriched project-based learning in STEM

The foundation of widening participation lies in a curriculum that is flexible enough to accommodate increasing student diversity while aligning with industry needs, writes James Williams

James Williams

University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

A student slumps over a pile of paperwork

Do students need accommodations for their accommodations?

Students with disabilities need accommodations so they can focus on learning. But when accessing those accommodations requires skills they don’t have, is the system really working?

Riley Pizza, Sara Brownell

Arizona State University

Opening doors to greater diversity in STEM

Find out how to remove barriers to study and research in science, technology, engineering and maths in order to attract and retain a wider diversity of talented students and academics in STEM fields

Campus contributors, Laura Duckett

Campus

Black leadership programmes support wider efforts to close HE attainment

Alongside other institutional initiatives, targeted programmes co-created by Black heritage students can improve academic outcomes and the overall student experience, says Faylisha Scott

Faylisha Scott

Nottingham Trent University

Boosting gender diversity in male-dominated STEM disciplines

How to address gender disparity in STEM, when so many disciplines are overwhelmingly male-dominated? Here’s how to work towards equality

Rick Cooper

Birkbeck, University of London

A young family walking through a university building

Stop excluding carers! Eight ways to create an inclusive research culture

Low-cost, practical fixes can build a ‘care aware’ research culture and reduce the mental health strain of combining care and scholarship

Mingzhi Li, Cagla Karatepe, Yanyan Li, Xinran Gao

The University of Warwick

Not just good intentions: how university staff can support genuine racial justice

Practical steps can support racial-minority students, call out bias and make campuses safer at a time when racism in Australian universities is more real than ever, writes Aaron Teo

Aaron Teo

The University of Southern Queensland

International study experiences can be great equalisers – but only if diverse students participate

In part two of his series on outbound student mobility, Lucas Lixinski explains why international study experiences can be so powerful in levelling socio-economic inequality in higher education and how institutions can support this

Lucas Lixinski

UNSW Sydney

Group of people in Kenya, looking at a mobile phone

Equitable research partnerships are no longer optional – here’s how to make them a reality

How to develop research partnerships between the UK and Global South in which knowledge, power and outcomes are equally shared among participants, based on a report by academics in South Africa, Kenya and the UK

BEAP (Building Equitable African Partnerships) team

University of South Africa, Lancaster University, University of Aberdeen, Kenyatta University , The Open University

Spotlight How to factor family into higher education

How to factor family into higher education

Practical advice for universities to support staff, faculty and students with parenting and caring responsibilities

Campus contributors, Eliza Compton

Campus

Multiracial group of women, women in university leadership concept

What must change? Towards gender-equitable and inclusive academic communities

University leadership has a responsibility to support gender equity that goes beyond simply holding senior roles, writes Lily Kong. Here, she calls for changes in career pathways, workload allocation and service expectations to open space for more women

Lily Kong

Singapore Management University

University teacher helping two multiracial students

Making student experience a core part of academic work

A student and an academic outline how universities must make student experience an explicit part of academic roles, from workloads to resourcing and recognition

Roma Forbes, Benjamin Ong

The University of Queensland

‘Universities need to be better prepared to handle anti-religious hate’

How can institutions navigate a landscape where some religious communities see equity, diversity and inclusion efforts as an essential safeguard, while others view these initiatives as an overreach?

Matthew J. Mayhew, Benjamin S. Selznick, Musbah Shaheen

The Ohio State University, James Madison University, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Students with their arms around each other from behind

Five ideas for fostering belonging and collaboration in the classroom

From ‘getting to know each other’ activities to outdoor learning and ongoing check-ins, Jamie Heywood offers strategies for creating a welcoming, collaborative classroom

Jamie Heywood

Anglia Ruskin University

Group of four smiling college students walking

A warm welcome is a strategic imperative for higher education

If we want incoming students to flourish, we must stop treating belonging as a bonus and start seeing it as an essential condition for learning. Scott Dunning offers strategies on welcoming students to succeed

Scott Dunning

Virginia Tech

Prevent overstimulation and support autistic students in the laboratory

Laboratory sessions can prompt overstimulation in autistic students. Here, one student outlines the challenges they’ve faced and what support has helped

Matthew Jones, Beth Crofts

University of Salford

Students chatting together at a table in class

Everyday strategies to build belonging and well-being

With a focus on emotional safety, connection and clear communication, these actions build belonging and support well-being across any discipline

Lauren Flannery

The University of East Anglia

Can peer mentoring support under-represented students into postgraduate research?

Mentoring is often seen as a silver bullet for tackling complex challenges such as unequal access to postgraduate research opportunities. So, can a peer-to-peer scheme support under-represented students into PhD study?

Maisha Islam

University of Southampton

Doctors of colour clasp hands in a circle

What underpins the success of a racial justice network?

A small online meeting of ethnic minority medical students in 2020 has now grown into a well established staff and student community. Here are six features that underpin its success

Kate Williams, Shameq Sayeed

University of Leicester

Why universities must step up their efforts as civic institutions

As major employers and civic bodies, universities have the opportunity – and responsibility – to work with local communities to drive meaningful change. Here are lessons from community organising

Farhan Samanani, Michael Bennett

King’s College London

University students celebrating their graduation

Rethinking neurodiversity in higher education

Strategies to embed neurodiversity support into teaching and assessment to unlock talent and drive innovation across higher education

Patrice Seuwou

University of Northampton

‘We stopped talking at communities and started working with them’

From consultation to collaboration, a ‘new’ approach to building meaningful community-university relationships results in connection, trust and true partnership

Kimberley Simms, Luke Parmenter

Nottingham Trent University

‘Support is not remedial. It is pedagogy’

STEM foundation years are key to widening participation. Find out how to make them supportive and structured, with well-being at the centre

Darryl Morgan, Hannah Seale

University of South Wales

A group of students discussing something on an iPad

Stop asking students to be the lesson and focus on choice and consent

When students are asked to share personal stories to illustrate lessons, the emotional cost can outweigh the educational gain. Aasiya Satia explores how consent-based pedagogy can create safer, more equitable classrooms for all students

Aasiya Satia

McMaster University

How to build a bridge from adversity to university

In this video, academics explain the essential elements – initial outreach, support and an interdisciplinary approach – behind the success of the Adversity to University bridging programme

Christopher Smethurst, Becky Edwards, Sandra Lyndon

University of Chichester

What’s the next step for widening participation? Make it personal

Despite admissions numbers soaring, students from low-income backgrounds are still missing out on the best graduate jobs. Here’s how personalised one-to-one coaching can dismantle the invisible barriers to career success

Ollie Taylor

UpReach, University of Liverpool

A group of people having a discussion at a table

Foster allyship to support marginalised groups in higher education

How to initiate change, create safe spaces for difficult conversations and nurture a culture of allyship in your department

Reuel Blair, Tizzy Gill

Nottingham Trent University, Birmingham City University

Snails, Jaffa Cakes and rubber ducks: making university outreach playful

Outreach initiatives like School Tasking show how academics can break down barriers, engage young learners, and make higher education feel accessible rather than intimidating

Ali Struthers, Alex Horne

The University of Warwick

Compassion cuts through polarisation

Compassion, not empathy, is the emotion that will cut through group polarisation and motivate constructive intergroup dialogue in higher education. Training in mindfulness-based compassion meditation can be scaled at a relatively low barrier to entry

Rayne Bozeman

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities

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