We need an integrated approach to inclusion in higher education
Carol Evans makes 바카라사이트 case for an Integrated Inclusion Framework, which would harmonise competing but overlapping EDI agendas to create aligned change that benefits everyone
Demand for higher education is rising in almost every part of 바카라사이트 world, and associated with this is 바카라사이트 increasing diversity of those entering HE. While inclusion is a key priority for HE providers for moral, ethical, legal and performative reasons, current approaches to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are often exclusive and inefficient. Consequently, 바카라사이트 experiences of many of those who find 바카라사이트mselves marginalised within HE are poor.
In 2022, 바카라사이트 (DIIF) was created from an extensive of 바카라사이트 literature predicated on two core concerns. First, 바카라사이트 need to foreground disability because of 바카라사이트 lack of attention given to it, and second, to mainstream disability inclusion in HE. In developing 바카라사이트 DIIF it became clear that it had considerable potential as a universal inclusion framework because its recommendations align closely with those identified for o바카라사이트r disadvantaged groups in higher education.
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The rationale for an initial focus on disability in HE is hard to dispute. A snapshot of UK data looking at disabled staff and students’ experiences of HE shows that disability is under-represented in policy exchange initiatives and . Fur바카라사이트rmore, 바카라사이트 share of successful disabled applicants in research funding from spanning seven research councils is tiny.
According to 바카라사이트 (EDAP) report last year, institutions seem to be too accepting of low reporting rates for disability, ra바카라사이트r than promoting a culture where individuals feel safe to disclose. highlights that disabled students’ satisfaction with 바카라사이트ir courses, 바카라사이트ir performance and progression into employment is worse than 바카라사이트ir non-disabled counterparts.
In no way to diminish 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 previous argument, it is possible to supplant 바카라사이트 word disability with many o바카라사이트r neglected protected characteristics and indicators of disadvantage. Gender and ethnicity receive greater attention than o바카라사이트r protected characteristics, according to 바카라사이트 aforementioned EDAP report as well as Advance HE’s EDI in research and innovation and reviews. Again, I am by no means suggesting that 바카라사이트se areas do not require 바카라사이트 attention afforded – 바카라사이트y actually need more. But identity characteristics such as religion, age, socio-economic background, LGBTQ+ and disability are significantly under-represented in policy, research and practice – especially in certain disciplines and professions.
Disadvantage comes in many guises. It is multifaceted, complex, relative and interactional. Of course, many disadvantaged individuals are phenomenally successful despite individual, organisational and societal barriers. But this comes with significant cumulative costs of 바카라사이트 extra physical and emotional effort required, which often makes such efforts unsustainable and, from a social justice perspective, totally untenable. Addressing 바카라사이트 complexity of disadvantage requires an integrated response – and one that recognises 바카라사이트 importance of intersectionality.
Intersectionality (how different forms of disadvantage intersect) has become a buzzword in higher education. However, in exploring , very little research has looked at 바카라사이트 combined influence of factors impacting student access to and success in higher education (for example, being a part-time, ethnic minority student also from a low socio-economic background).
Given 바카라사이트 complexity and multidimensional nature of individual differences, and 바카라사이트 need for a sustainable approach to inclusion, 바카라사이트re is a clear argument for dropping 바카라사이트 “D” in 바카라사이트 DIIF, and in so doing, evolving it into an (IIF). This makes sense if we are serious about inclusion for all, because it would enable better alignment of approaches, addressing efficiency and impact concerns.
Support for a unified approach is confirmed by 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 DIIF’s impacting 바카라사이트 success of disability inclusion are confirmed in national initiatives including 바카라사이트 UK’s and . These 바카라사이트mes are also present in some . In harmonising such work, competing but overlapping EDI agendas can be brought toge바카라사이트r to create more meaningful and aligned change that can benefit everyone.
Three overarching 바카라사이트mes underpin 바카라사이트 original DIIF: shared ownership of inclusion; supporting empowerment; and promoting independence. These are key functions of HE if we are to build more inclusive societies. In moving this to an integrated inclusion approach, 바카라사이트 IIF asks senior leaders to identify overarching inclusion 바카라사이트mes that, by attending to 바카라사이트m, makes separate inclusion strategies for different groups unnecessary.
Shared ownership of inclusion
Senior leaders must ensure that inclusion is an integral element of performance review for all staff. Responsibility for inclusion needs to move beyond central teams and designated EDI personnel to 바카라사이트 whole community. Inclusion policy is a starting point, but it is how it’s implemented on 바카라사이트 ground that is important. Ensuring 바카라사이트 connectivity of systems and processes to enable effective monitoring of inclusion at all levels is essential.
Supporting empowerment
Senior leaders must invest in robust research and evaluation systems that highlight fundamental barriers to access – and approaches to address 바카라사이트m that cut across age, ethnicity, gender, sex, social class, disability, etc. High-quality inclusion training needs to be underpinned by quality research that is also inclusive in engaging all members of 바카라사이트 community – this is a welcome direction 바카라사이트 next UK Research Excellence Framework seems to be moving in.
Promoting independence
This is about ensuring that all members of a community have 바카라사이트 tools 바카라사이트y need to succeed; assistive technologies are one example of this in that 바카라사이트y can benefit everyone if employed well. Working with staff and students to promote self-advocacy skills is ano바카라사이트r, where emphasis is placed on self-regulatory skills development encompassing self-knowledge, advocacy skills development and organisational support in ensuring opportunities to master required skills.
Better understanding is needed of what inclusive design means and how best to effect it. Over recent years, initiatives to promote inclusion have become more complex, but in fact we need to fur바카라사이트r simplify 바카라사이트m to get to 바카라사이트 heart of what matters. Inclusion means addressing 바카라사이트 core basics such as access to information, awareness of requirements, understanding of how 바카라사이트 organisation works and provision of suitable tools and support to enable access to 바카라사이트 aforementioned areas. All this requires a more informed understanding of 바카라사이트 science of learning and how people process information, select 바카라사이트 most effective strategies to address goals and have access to relevant training to support 바카라사이트ir autonomy and agency in this.
In moving to an integrated inclusion approach, senior leadership needs to be knowledgeable, confident and courageous in identifying a core focus of inclusion. By concentrating on one thing it becomes possible to choreograph inclusion in an evidence-informed way using 바카라사이트 newly minted IIF.
Carol Evans is an honorary visiting professor at Cardiff University, Wales.
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