Building inclusive cultures for confident student transitions into and through Higher Education 

Co-leads: 

Dr Jill Alexander

Email: jill.alexander@northumbria.ac.uk

Dr Elisabeth Griffiths 

Email: elisabeth.griffiths@northumbria.ac.uk

Statement of Purpose 

1. Exploring the current student offer for widening participation, international and disability. 
2. Identifying and understanding the barriers to inclusive transitions via student voice and lived experience. 
3. Developing a framework to support student professional identity development to enhance student success. 
4. Supporting students to navigate barriers through HE with confidence. 

Potential Areas to Pursue: 

1. Establish the baseline by completing a scoping exercise to gather information on what is currently offered to widening participation, international and disabled students as they start their studies and then as they progress through university. This will include information from academic departments as well as professional service staff. Once the baseline is established gaps can be identified. 
2. Engaging with students within those groups will be critically important to establish their views on what would help and support their academic experience, to build their confidence and professional identity.
3. Develop a university wide approach which could include a central access point for information on initiatives; showcase best practice whilst acknowledging subject specific contexts.