Baljit Birring, Senior Consultant for Inclusive Leadership, and Hannah Fromageau, Senior Consultant for Leadership & Management at Advance HE, explore why inclusive leadership is vital in today’s challenging higher education environment by outlining how inclusive leadership strengthens culture, supports staff and students through uncertainty, and drives values‑led, sustainable change, while offering practical insight into what it looks like in action.
Higher education is navigating one of the most turbulent eras in its history. Institutions face shrinking budgets, rapidly changing student demographics, staff reductions and escalating political and cultural scrutiny. At the same time, leaders are contending with persistent recruitment and retention challenges fuelled by high workloads, below‑market salaries and limited progression pathways.
In this landscape, competent management alone is not enough. What staff and students need – perhaps more than ever – is inclusive leadership: leadership that brings steadiness, fairness and a genuine sense of belonging when the external environment is characterised by uncertainty and change.
Why inclusive leadership is essential in today’s higher education sector
Universities reflect the diversity, complexity and inequalities of society. Persistent sector issues – racial inequity, gender disparities, underrepresentation at senior levels and gaps in wellbeing and belonging – underscore the need for leadership that does not simply acknowledge inequity but actively works to dismantle it.
Sector research continues to strengthen this case. When reflecting on the Advance HE Framework for Leading in Higher Education, Christian Harrison, Professor of Leadership and Enterprise at the University of Greater Manchester reminds us that universities act not only as centres of learning but as agents of social change, requiring leadership that is values-driven, adaptive and genuine. He stresses the evolving role of leadership within universities:
“Inclusive leadership in higher education is no longer simply a moral aspiration; it is a strategic necessity. Universities sit at the intersection of knowledge, opportunity and social change. Leaders must therefore move beyond symbolic commitments and embed fairness, belonging and opportunity into the everyday cultures and practices of their institutions.”
Similarly, in her work, Dr Olajumoke (Jummy) Okoya emphasises the need for conscious inclusion embedded into strategy, organisational systems and everyday behaviours:
“Inclusive leadership is about creating workplaces where every member of staff can see a pathway for their growth and contribution. When institutions remove structural barriers and invest in people fairly, they don’t just unlock the full potential of their people they position universities as powerful engines of social progress.”
Together, these perspectives reinforce a simple truth: inclusive leadership is no longer an optional enhancement. It is a strategic capability for institutional resilience and success
What inclusive leadership looks like in practice
Inclusive leadership is not defined by grand gestures. It is demonstrated through consistent, everyday actions that shape how people experience their workplace. At its core, inclusive leadership involves:
- Genuine interest in people:listening with curiosity strengthens connection and trust.
- Clear, equitable structures:transparent processes and consistent expectations reduce uncertainty and enable fairness.
- Active support for growth:advocating for colleagues and creating visibility helps build diverse, sustainable talent pipelines.
These behaviours provide the psychological safety and clarity teams need to perform well, especially during periods of change.
A pathway to stronger institutions
The call for inclusive leadership across higher education is clear: it is no longer an optional enhancement but a strategic capability. Inclusive leadership contributes to organisational transformation.
In short, inclusive leadership is a catalyst for meaningful, sustainable change.
Inclusive Leadership Programme for Higher Education – this programme is designed for aspiring and emerging leaders ready to shape the future of inclusive, high‑performing institutions. Bookings for the next cohort talking place 24 June and 8 July 2026 are now open. Find out more.
