Higher education is facing financial pressures, political challenges and shifting student expectations, all of which threaten progress in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Rising costs, frozen fees and declining international recruitment have led to staffing cuts and reduced services.
Simultaneously, opposition to EDI efforts and increased regulation complicate institutional strategies. As student demographics diversify and expectations rise, institutions must prioritise accessible, inclusive services.
This member benefit theme aims to help higher education institutions (HEIs) sustain progress on EDI by improving strategic, integrated decision-making and planning among senior leaders, while considering local context and evidence.
Drawing on Advance HE's global membership and partnerships, it will offer practical tools and insights for emerging challenges, including support for disabled students, mental health, and free speech. Outputs will range from comprehensive frameworks and guidance reports to worked scenarios and events.
Full information on each project can be found below.
Who can benefit from this theme?
Anyone involved in EDI at an HE institution can benefit from this project, from EDI practitioners, HR and student services professionals to deans, department heads and vice-chancellors.
Projects and outputs
Student service redesign
Recognising the critical importance of excellent student support, this strand will explore new models for organising and delivering services, investigate innovative approaches, and help you to improve efficiency in targeting interventions and coordinating support.
By working with key partners in academic support, student services, disability support and mental health and wellbeing provision, this output will be a valuable update of Advance HE’s Student Needs Framework.
Outputs from this project include:
- Report
- Practical user guide - to be published April 2025
- 3 dissemination events:
1 expert panel discussion and Q&A
Webinar: Securing Student Outcomes - Using the Student Needs Framework - HEIs session - Watch the recording
Webinar: Securing Student Outcomes - Using the Student Needs Framework - Small and Specialist Institutions session
Want to receive updates when we publish outputs from this theme? Please register your interest.
Disabled Student Commitment (DSC)
The Disabled Student Commitment, hosted by Advance HE in partnership with NADP, is a sector-led, self-regulatory initiative aimed at enhancing the experience of disabled students. Now in its second year, the Commitment, chaired by Deborah Johnston (LSBU), seeks to increase senior engagement and member participation across the UK, with global ambitions.
Following the Abrahart case judgment and EHRC recommendations in 2024, the Disabled Student Commitment is working in partnership with sector stakeholders to develop and share guidance on competence standards and reasonable adjustments in higher education.
Outputs of this project include:
- Report: Guidance on Competence Standards and Reasonable Adjustments
- Report: a practical checklist for senior leaders on implications from the Abrahart case
Holistic approach to EDI
This project will focus on moving to co-developing and testing models of a holistic approach to EDI, ensuring that members who see this as a priority have a process to engage with the development of the Holistic Approach framework in 24-25, and that Advance HE’s full membership has the option of using it from 25-26.
Outputs of this project include:
- Charters output – Holistic Approach to EDI framework
- Thought leadership articles and dialogue events
- Collaborative Development Fund – practical guidance on aspects of aligning access and EDI
- Open access benefit – a written output and a recorded ‘in conversation with’ segment and panel/Q&A events
- Updated equality impact assessment (EIA) guidance
- Guidance report and toolkit on strategic decision making and prioritisation for EDI
Collaborative Development Fund 2024-25
The Collaborative Development Fund supports our members navigate change and overcome challenges by encouraging innovation, collaboration and the sharing of knowledge of what works. Projects as part of the Collaborative Development Fund are directly aligned to our global themes.
The Protecting Inclusion in Times of Change strand aims to address a growing range of strategic EDI priorities, commitments and policy drivers, often in the context of declining resource or a challenging financial environment, is a consistent issue for many of Advance HE’s members.
EDI events and courses
