Improving Outcomes for BAME Students in Higher Education 2023

In March 2022, the UK Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities published a series of recommendations and actions to guide universities in their journeys towards racial equality in higher education, illustrating the current nationwide focus on improving the university experience of BAME students.

With BAME student attendance at UK universities at an all time high, it is now more essential than ever to ensure diversity and inclusion in British higher education. While Universities UK’s ‘Closing the Gap’ report recently demonstrated that substantial progress has been made in areas such as narrowing the attainment gap, it also highlighted there is still progress to be made.

Through sharing best practice, universities can build upon their existing success and develop new strategies to close the attainment gap, create move inclusive environments and better support BAME students.

• Recent statistics from the Higher Education Statistics Agency revealed BAME students make up over a quarter of the student population in UK higher education
• Data from Advance HE shows that only 2.8% of the total staff in UK higher education are Black, compared with 3.3% of the total population
• A 2022 report from Unite Students UK revealed that more than half of Black students have experienced racial harassment in their accommodation
• According to Universities UK, the attainment gap between white students and BAME students awarded a First or a 2:1 for their degree has decreased by 4.4% from 2018 to 2021

Make sure you join this year’s Improving Outcomes for BAME students in Higher Education conference – a must attend event for everyone working in this important area:

• High Level Keynotes – Receive the latest guidance and strategies to address racial inequalities in higher education from specialists at leading Universities and others working at the forefront of change
• Best Practice Case Studies – Gain practical insights and tips on creating and implementing effective inclusivity and diversity policies, decolonising and diversifying the curriculum, and strategies to narrow the attainment gap
• Networking and Debates – In breakout groups, engage with senior colleagues from across the sector and discuss the challenges you face in addressing inequalities and supporting students, and share initiatives to improve outcomes
• Live Chat – Connect with the other delegates via our virtual events platform – before, during, and after the conference
• Q&A – Question the speakers, get the answers you need, and discover the challenges your counterparts are experiencing
• 8 Hours of CPD – Alongside gaining valuable insights and inspiration, your time out of the office will also work towards your own development targets
• Go Green – Our digital events mean you can take part from the comfort of your office or home reducing the carbon footprint and saving you time and money.

NEW AND EXCLUSIVE TO YOUR
CONFERENCE PACKAGE – GE Insights:

This year’s conference package includes 12-months FREE access to GE Insights, our cross-sector learning resource of case study focused videos, articles, lived experiences and more (RRP £199). Gain unlimited access to our online platform when you purchase your conference ticket.

Key benefits include:

 ✓ 100s of Exclusive Case Studies – fingertip access to videos and articles covering all key sectors including Higher Education, and ALL CPD certified

 ✓ Key Sessions from All Our Conferences – gain valuable insights from our past, present, and future events (160+ pa)

 ✓ Articles and Interviews – learn from our network of expert speakers and contributors explore further the key discussions from the conferences

 ✓ Additional CPD Hours – automatically earn more for everything you watch, read, and hear

 ✓ Your Own CPD Dashboard – charts your progress, allows you to add notes, download your activities, and save/print an official CPD certificate

 ✓ Personalised Homepage – only see the relevant content you need to save time

 ✓ 30+ New Uploads Each Month – we’re adding new content every week to ensure you stay engaged and informed all year round.

For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285

• 09.30

  Online Registration 

• 09.50

  Chair’s Opening Remarks 

  Charles Egbu, Vice- Chancellor, Leeds Trinity University (CONFIRMED)

• 10.00

  Keynote: Exploring National Trends and Approaches for Widening Access for Minority Ethnic Students

  • Overview of the application data for students from minority ethnic groups
  • Strategies for widening access and participation initiatives to better support BAME students in higher education opportunities
  • Insights into how the intersectionality of ethnicity with other personal characteristics and circumstances may create hidden challenges
  • Identifying and tackling barriers faced by students from ethnic minority backgrounds in higher education opportunities

  Nicola Turner, Senior Fair Access Adviser, UCAS (CONFIRMED)

  Haleema Masud, Policy Adviser, UCAS (CONFIRMED)

• 10.20

  Keynote: Addressing Inequalities in Higher Education to Improve Outcomes for BAME Students 

  • Latest government guidance and recommendations for increasing access and widening participation in higher education
  • Closing the Gap update: national progress being made on narrowing the attainment gap and the different methods being used to tackle this issue
  • Outlining the barriers and inequalities that BAME students face in higher education and key leadership strategies for addressing these
  • Sharing how universities and others in the public sector can work together to tackle racial inequalities in higher education
  • Providing insights into what successful diversity and inclusion initiatives looks like in higher education

  Henrietta O’Connor, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, University of Leicester (CONFIRMED)

• 10.40

  Case Study: Guidance on Decolonising the Curriculum to Promote Diverse Perspectives

  • Advice on developing discipline specific resources to decolonise activity within schools and curriculum development
  • Practical tips for creating a more inclusive curriculum that features perspectives representative of a diverse population
  • Implementing reading groups and seminars that focus on decolonisation to drive wider institutional change
  • Encouraging student feedback on the curriculum to promote continued improvement in decolonising the curriculum
  • Key tips for beginning the process of decolonising the curriculum and securing senior buy-in

  Alvin Birdi, Associate Pro Vice Chancellor (Education Innovation and Enhancement), University of Bristol (CONFIRMED)

• 11.00

  Questions & Answers Session

• 11.20

  Comfort Break 

• 11.35

  Keynote: Taking an Intersectional Approach to Better Support BAME Students in Higher Education

  • Intersectional approaches to support BAME students: addressing factors that are typically overlooked in traditional diversity and inclusion practices
  • Engaging with staff and students to identify and tackle intersectional issues that impact BAME students in higher education
  • Ensuring inclusion for all minority groups is embedded across all areas by implementing a whole system approach
  • Advice on facilitating conversations on race and intersectionality with both senior leaders and students to identify areas for improvement and ensure long-lasting change
  • Insights on utilizing data-driven methods to tailor inclusion approaches for individual institutions

  Anuj Kapilashrami, Professor in Global Health Policy & Equity (Gender & Intersectionality), University of Essex (CONFIRMED)

• 11.55

  Case Study: Developing University-Wide Policies and Strategies to Promote Diversity and Inclusion

  • Advice on developing and implementing successful strategies and policies that drive positive cultural change in institutions
  • Key tips on tackling harassment and discrimination on campus through zero tolerance university policies
  • Collaborating with BAME students to detect and address the issues they deem most important
  • Utilising language to create more inclusive strategies and policies

  Maisha Islam, Doctoral College Research Culture Lead (EDI), University of Southampton (CONFIRMED)

• 12.15

  Case Study: Creating Targeted Student Support Programmes to Improve the Experience of Students of Colour

  •  Developing meaningful partnerships with students to create a more inclusive student welfare system
  •  Measures to prevent and tackle the unique factors that affect the mental health and wellbeing of students of colour and impact their outcomes
  •  Implementing support groups for students of colour to provide them with a safe space to share their perspective and experiences
  • Practical insights from Bristol’s peer support programmes

  Zoë Pither, Head of Student Inclusion, University of Bristol (CONFIRMED)

• 12.35

  Questions and Answers Session

• 12.55

  Lunch Break 

• 13.35

  Keynote: Tackling Racial Harassment and Discrimination in Higher Education 

  • Encouraging universities to take a positive, proactive role in preventing and eliminating racial harassment beyond their legal duties
  • Advice on developing accessible and effective redressal routes for students and staff who have experienced racial harassment
  • Practical tips on improving reporting tools to ensure universities are kept up to date on the scale of the issue
  • Insights into handling more nuanced and covert instances of racism or harassment
  • Recommendations and guidance on how universities can implement changes to prevent racial harassment and implement widespread cultural changes

  Marcial Boo, Chief Executive, Equality and Humans Right Commission (CONFIRMED)

• 13.55

  Case Study: Representation Matters: Providing Holistic Approaches to Positively Influence Outcomes for Students from BAME Backgrounds

  • Sharing perspectives on BAME students lived experiences of racism, outside of university, influence and impact their experiences of learning and overall outcomes
  • Benefits of creating opportunities for students and staff from BAME backgrounds to share lived experiences and techniques for overcoming barriers
  • Opportunities for harnessing the knowledge: learning and support available from BAME Staff Networks
  • Exploring the power of ‘role models by choice’, instead of ‘by design’

  Annette Hay, Senior Research Delivery Support Partner (Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) and BME Staff Network Lead, Coventry University (CONFIRMED)

   

• 14.15

  Questions & Answers Session

• 14.35

  Breakout Networking: Starting Open Conversations around Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education

  This session will provide you with the opportunity to discuss the main challenges you face in addressing inequalities and supporting BAME students in higher education. We encourage you to share your view of what successful diversity and inclusion looks like in higher education. Take this time to share your experiences and network with senior colleagues.

• 15.05

  Comfort Break

• 15.20

  Case Study: Implementing Diverse Methods to Tackle the Attainment Gap

  • Identifying and understanding the factors that contribute to the attainment gap between White and BAME students to inform system improvements
  • Outlining the variety of strategies implemented university-wide to narrow the gap and tools for measuring outcomes
  • Practical tips on diversifying recruitment methods to ensure staff are representative of the diverse student body
  • The Lead and Inspire project: successfully developing business and leadership skills in students from minority ethnic backgrounds to improve their employment outcomes
  • Resources to secure senior-buy in for closing the attainment gap

  Afua Acheampong, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, Queen Mary University of London (CONFIRMED)

• 15.40

  Case Study: Diversifying Assessment Methods to Create Fairer Outcomes for BAME Students

  Dr Paul Campbell,  Associate Professor, University of Leicester (CONFIRMED)

• 16.00

  Questions & Answers Session

• 16.20

  Chair’s Closing Remarks

Who Should Attend?

Delegates who will have an interest in this event will be people who work in the Higher Education sector.

*This Conference is open to Public, Private and Third Sectors

For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285

We are now taking bookings for our wide range of sponsorship and exhibition packages; we also offer bespoke packages tailored for your organisation.

Why Sponsor and Exhibit at this event:

✓ Network with key decision makers from across the NHS
✓ Meet your target audience in the sector
✓ Listen and Learn from leading industry experts from across the sector
✓ Opportunity to demonstrate your products or services
✓ Speak alongside industry leading experts
✓ Work with your dedicated account manager to generate the maximum amount of leads

Exhibition and Sponsorship Packages:

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Strategic Headline Sponsor:

• 20-minute speaking slot followed by Q&A
• 3x2m Exhibition Space (In the Refreshments and Catering room)
• Pre show marketing email to all registered delegates
• Post show inclusion on presentation email
• Branding on Website and Event Guide (Logo and 100 Word Profile)
• A4 Insert or A4 Chair Drop
• 5 Delegate Conference Passes
• 1 Speaker Pass

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Key Supporter Package:

• 20-minute speaking slot followed by Q&A
• Branding on Website and Event Guide (Logo and 100 Word Profile)
• A4 Insert or Chair Drop
• 1 Speaker Pass
• 2 Delegate Conference Passes

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Exhibition Stand:

• 3x2m Exhibition Space (In the Refreshments and Catering room)
• Power, Wifi, Table and 2 Chairs (If required)
• Branding on Website and Event Guide (Logo and 100 Word Profile)
• 2 Delegate Conference Passes
• 1 Stand Manager Pass

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Insert or Chair Drop:

• 1 Delegate Conference Pass
• A4 insert into delegate pack or A4 Chair Drop

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For more information or to discuss the available option please call 0203 961 5002 or email Sponsorship@GovernmentEvents.co.uk 

• Public Sector Rate: : £449.00+VAT
• Voluntary Sector Rate: : £379.00+VAT
• Private Sector Rate: : £649.00+VAT