Session Outline

The need to achieve equity, diversity and inclusion in higher education nationally and internationally responds to a social justice imperative, as reflected in the UN Sustainable Development Goals 4 ‘ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all ’. Over the past 20 years, various studies have repeatedly highlighted the persistent undergraduate racial equity gap (degree awarding gap/ethnicity gap) between White and racially minoritised student groups. The racial equity gap across UK HE institutions continues to be a challenge, ‘under the policy spotlight and is an increasing cause for concern in the higher education sector, (AdvanceHE, 2021: Online), particularly as this has implications for students entering graduate-level jobs or progressing to postgraduate courses. Across the sector, there is a mixed picture of awareness of the racial equity gap and variable institutional efforts to close it across the sector. Further, there is a notable lack of research on the potential contribution of personal tutors to closing the awarding gap for racially minoritised undergraduate students. Not all personal tutors are racially literate and have the requisite antiracist and pastoral skills to facilitate conversations about race and racism.

Are you interested in collaborating with us on a cross-institution research project? The UKAT Equity and Inclusion SIG invite you to dialogue, ponder, contemplate and reimagine the potential role of personal tutoring to contribute to achieving racial equity and closing the degree awarding gap.