Advance HE’s Ruth Gilligan, Assistant Director – Inclusive Institutions, gives an update on the new framework to support EDI in HE.
Over the past 18 months, Advance HE has been working in close collaboration with the sector to design a more strategic, efficient and sustainable way to support equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in higher education. As we near the end of the development phase of this work, we’re pleased to share a preview of what’s coming next: the Inclusive Institutions Framework (IIF).
The IIF is not being launched just yet – materials and full guidance are being finalised with input from the sector and will be available in Summer 2025 – but we are now moving into a new phase of work, focused on preparing institutions for participation.
From co-development to delivery
The IIF is being developed through an extensive process of consultation, discovery and design.
We are working with a co-development group of 19 UK institutions, as well as international collaborators in Ireland, Canada and beyond. Their insights, along with expertise from across Advance HE – including equality charters, leadership development, student success, strategic planning and change management – are helping us shape a framework that is modular, flexible and strategically aligned. Together, we are creating a framework that reflects the complexity and variation of institutional contexts, while offering clarity, structure and support for building capacity and driving change.
The IIF will support institutions to strengthen their systems and structures, build and analyse their evidence base, identify and agree on priorities, and plan and evaluate coordinated action – all with a view to embedding long-term, institution-wide change.
What’s coming next
The Inclusive Institutions Framework will launch formally in January 2026, as a structured, modular framework that supports institutions to align their EDI, access and strategic goals, and take a more integrated, efficient and evidence-informed approach to creating change.
At its heart, the IIF is about helping institutions:
- strengthen the systems and structures that underpin effective EDI work
- streamline and integrate their activity to deliver maximum impact while achieving efficiencies
- build a stronger understanding of their institutional evidence and the experience of their communities
- identify and prioritise areas for action that align with institutional goals
- plan, resource and evaluate coordinated action for long-term impact.
We’re working closely with institutions engaged in Athena Swan (AS) and the Race Equality Charter (REC) to ensure the IIF complements or integrates with their existing activity – offering clearer alignment, reducing duplication and enabling flexibility.
Pathfinding the future
We’re now inviting expressions of interest from institutions that would like to join a pathfinder group, which will become the first full cohort starting in January 2026.
This group will begin work in August 2025 and will benefit from:
- early access to the framework materials and guidance
- support to explore how the IIF can align with or replace existing Charter work
- help navigating institutional readiness, goals and timelines
- a role in shaping final refinements before full launch.
Institutions that are interested in IIF but not yet ready to participate will also be supported through regular communications, resources and advice – including a comparison of frameworks and guidance to aid their decision-making – to help them assess the best route forward for their context.
Sector feedback so far
Feedback on the IIF’s draft structure has been overwhelmingly positive, with institutions welcoming the iterative, modular design and emphasis on strategic alignment. As one respondent shared:
“The framework’s emphasis on continuous improvement and alignment with broader institutional goals is exactly what we need to embed sustainable EDI practices.”
This feedback is helping to shape final refinements as we prepare to launch the first cohort in 2026. We remain committed to a collaborative, transparent approach, with ongoing development informed by our co-development partners and wider sector engagement.
What next?
We’ll be launching the IIF and publishing full guidance materials in Summer 2025, alongside confirmed pricing and more information about how the framework fits within Advance HE membership.
In the meantime, you can register your interest in joining the pathfinder group or sign up for updates.
We’re excited to support the sector through this next phase – working together to build more inclusive, effective and resilient systems for the future of higher education.
