The widening participation agenda and equality legislation have contributed to an increasingly diverse student population in higher education. To reflect on this and explore strategies to build and improve on work in this area the HEA held a summit meeting on Inclusive Learning and Teaching.
This reflective paper outlines the commitment and initiatives undertaken by the University of East London (UEL) as an outcome of this summit.
This project aimed to:
- develop and implement over a five year period a fully inclusive curriculum for all of their students so as to maximise student success among a very diverse student body.
UEL is highly diverse. 63% of students are from black minority ethnic groups 8% are disabled and 50% from economically challenged backgrounds. They are proud of their mission: ‘…to be an inclusive regional university focused on students committed to new models of learning which help students change their lives…’
They fully recognise that if they are to realise their mission and help all students fulfil their potential a radical approach to curriculum design delivery and assessment is needed. Their aim is to promote and facilitate the highest academic standards and achievement for all students by tapping into potential that can be missed by traditional approaches alone. UEL will strive to create an academic culture which puts students at the heart of academic development.
