A presentation from the HEA's Research Conference: Promoting Equity in Higher Education 2010.
This paper discusses the impact of two innovative projects involving alumni from diverse backgrounds who were asked to reflect on their experiences at university and then given the opportunity to feed this back to a wider cohort. They were encouraged to consider how their own experience could be improved and have the opportunity to discuss possible solutions with new students and staff with a view to influence changes in curriculum practices and modes of delivery.
These two interventions have been a very powerful way to influence and promote the equality agenda at the institution. Stuart (2000) talks about encouraging active participation from a wide range of the student community which will start to redefine the parameters of the Academy itself. Burke (2002) also points out that effective widening participation depends on explicitly addressing the experiences practices and meaning of students themselves.
