Improving Outcomes for Ethnic Minority Students in Higher Education

During the pandemic many institutions saw the awarding gap between white and BAME students fall to zero (2020-21). Since this awarding gap maintains throughout the sector. Such disparities have been further highlighted by movements for racial justice and inclusivity across the nation and on campuses. Universities must therefore act to address the awarding gap, improve the university experience, and create a truly inclusive and decolonised curriculum. These are vital steps to improve student wellbeing, reduce the attainment gap and enhance employability prospects for BAME students in higher education.

• The awarding of First or 2:1 degrees between white and Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) students lessened by 4.4% between 2018 and 2021. (HESA)
• The degree awarding gap was more pronounced among part-time BAME students compared to their white peers (23%) in 2021. (HESA)
• White graduates (74%) were also more likely than BAME graduates (72%) to be in professional-level employment, according to survey data from Jisc

Join us at the Improving Outcomes and Experiences for BAME Students in Higher Education Conference 2024 to hear from leading experts and academics on how to support minority ethnic students at university. Learn and benefit from a series of best practice case studies on a range of topics including narrowing the attainment gap, fostering culture change within institutions, and creating university-wide equality and diversity policies. You will also have the chance to network with senior colleagues and further your goals in improving outcomes for BAME students.

Why Attend:

✓ Hear high-level keynotes on the latest initiatives in Improving Outcomes for BAME Students from experts and researchers

✓ Learn from case studies showcasing best practice in narrowing the attainment gap, fostering cultural change, and innovatively engaging with staff and management

✓ Discuss a wide range of topics including the attainment and awarding gap, decolonised curriculums, and engaging with minority students

✓ Network with senior colleagues from across higher education.

✓ Gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota

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 Local Authorities, Voluntary, and 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

• 09.00

  Online Registration

• 09.30

  Chair’s Opening Remarks

  Dr Kenisha Linton-Williams, Associate Professor of Management, University of Greenwich (CONFIRMED)

• 09.40

  Keynote: Equity in Employment: Addressing Disparities in University Career Services

  • Evaluating support services offered by universities for job-seeking graduates to understand how they align with graduate needs for finding appropriate job opportunities
  • Dissecting the disparities existing in job outcomes for graduates to improve institutional support differences and the quality of career counselling services
  • Identifying the connections between universities and employers, including internships and work placements, to enhance job prospects for graduates
  • Connecting London-based graduates with career-progressing opportunities and further Insights on the program’s structure, results, and feedback

  Indra Nauth, Deputy Chief Executive, Action for Race Equality (CONFIRMED)

• 10.00

  Case Study: Providing Personalised Platforms for Black Scholars: The ASPIRE approach

  • Demonstrating how data uncovers significant racial disparities in PhD funding, necessitating tailored interventions like ASPIRE.
  • Strategies for producing collaborative efforts and funding mechanisms to improve postgraduate research opportunities for minority students
  • Providing support to produce the benefits of mentorship and targeted support for students to enhance their academic journey
  • Promoting transparency to Encourage continuous public engagement and transparency through accessible reports on funding and achievements
  • Measuring the broader implications of ASPIRE’s support system on career readiness and institutional change

  Dr Seun Ajao, senior lecturer (associate professor) in Data Science, Manchester Metropolitan University (CONFIRMED)

• 10.20

  Case Study: Tackling the Ethnicity Awarding Gap in the West Midlands: a partnership approach

  • Aimhigher West Midlands are a partnership of universities, who have come together to understand and tackle the ethnicity awarding gap in the West Midlands region.

  • Insights into the strikingly different profiles, each of our partner universities shows an awarding gap, whereby white learners are more likely to receive a first-class or upper-second degree than learners of other ethnicities. This is regardless of factors such as IMD, gender or disability.

  • Strategies to tackle the gap, partners highlight the need to combine local and central action, the role of data analytics and the importance of robustly testing potential causes of the gap

  • Demonstrating how regional collaboration can be a powerful motor for sharing learning and designing joint approaches to addressing the gap.

  Catarina Ferreira, Evaluation, Research and Data Manager, Aimhigher West Midlands (CONFIRMED)

• 10.40

  Questions and Answers

• 11.00

  Comfort Break

• 11.15

  Case Study: Facilitating Safe Spaces and Race-Based Conversations to Achieve a Cultural Transformation

  • Sharing the nuances and challenges of the prevailing culture within higher education institutions.
  • Identifying and engaging the key stakeholders that can drive transformative change: tips and advice
  • Strategies for equipping staff with skills to facilitate conversations about culture changes within the workspace
  • Maintaining consistent communication to unite all departments towards a common goal of inclusivity

  Dr Hardeep Basra, Associate Professor Teaching & Learning (PFHEA), De Montfort University (CONFIRMED)

• 11.35

  Case study: Racism shapes careers: Support, needs, and values of racialised minority undergraduate and postgraduate students

  • Outlining how political and societal shifts have shaped employment decision-making processes
  • Analysing the impact of intersectional and racialised identities on career trajectories
  • Developing strategies to better support the needs of racialised students entering the workplace
  • Facilitating critical discussions on career and employment structures in the UK

  Rhianna Garrett, Doctoral researcher, research fellow and consultant, Loughborough University (CONFIRMED)

• 11.55

  Case Study: Campfire Chats: A Case Study of Inclusive Community Building

  • Examining prevalent overt and subtle forms of bias and discrimination within universities
  • Identifying the direct and indirect impact of cultural biases on Students and Staff
  • Insight into the experiences of both students and staff when facing discrimination and the challenges encountered when reporting
  • Exploring successful strategies and programs implemented within North East England’s universities aimed at increasing awareness, fostering inclusion, and combating bias and discrimination
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of current university policies and procedures in addressing such issues

  Dr Dawn Bolger, Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, Swansea University (CONFIRMED)

• 12.15

  Questions and Answers

• 12.35

  Lunch Time

• 13.15

  Case Study: Exploring Decolonising Beyond a Reading List: Decolonising Through Reflexive Practice

  • Understanding what decolonising through reflexive practice is
  • Exploring the strengths and limitations developing a decolonised curriculum
  • Considering practical implications and challenges around decolonising practice
  • Implementing decolonising work
  • Evaluating the impact and nature of decolonising

  Sami Safadi, Academic Student Success Lead, University of Salford (CONFIRMED)

• 13.35

  Case Study: Mentoring for Change: Strategies to Eliminate Racial Bias in Academia

  • Outlining the initial data that demonstrating the underrepresentation of Black scholars in academia and the necessity for projects to address these gaps
  • Sharing effective mentorship strategies that to promote racial equality, to create relatable role models and providing continuous personal and professional support to Black students
  • Tangible outcomes and the overall improvement of students in academic confidence and leadership skills
  • Proposing further strategies for scaling up initiatives and integrating them into national academic policies to ensure a broader impact on eliminating racial biases in academia

  Dr Ifedapo Francis Awolowo, Senior Lecturer in Financial & Management Accounting; ASPIRE Project Lead, Sheffield Hallam University (CONFIRMED)

   

• 13.55

  Questions and Answers

   

• 14.15

  Breakout Networking: Collaborative Strategies in Advancing Employability Initiatives for BAME learners

  This session is to allow you to share your experiences you confront daily in enhancing inclusivity and supporting BAME students. Overall, learn from others, and foster cross-sector collaboration for innovative solutions.

• 14.45

  Comfort Break

• 15.00

  Case Study: National Overview of Understanding the Awarding Gap: Strategies and Solutions for Achieving Greater Equity

  • Defining the awarding gap: data-driven insights into disparities in academic achievements between BAME and non-BAME students
  • Insights into pedagogical approaches, mentorship programmes, and community engagement initiatives that target the root causes of the gap
  • Developing faculty and institution-wide commitments to increase the university’s responsibly and accountability for enhancing equity
  • Mapping strategies in intervening and changing the awarding gap to improve employability prospects for minority ethnic students

  Savanna Cutts, Student Inclusion Manager, University of Southampton (CONFIRMED)

• 15.20

  Lived Experience: Listening and Strengthening BAME Student Voices for Active Feeback and Engagement

  • Sharing insights into the impact of listening to and valuing minority student voices
  • Establishing best practice in effectively engaging with BAME students and encourage open dialogue
  • Translating feedback into action: leveraging student insights to drive cultural inclusivity and policy reform

  Christabel Enabulele Odeh, 3rd Year Law Student, University of Glasgow (CONFIRMED)

• 15.40

  Questions and Answers

• 16.00

  Chair’s Closing Remarks

  *programme subject to change without notice

Who Should Attend?

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

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

Raise your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business

If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact Chris and Ali today at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here and we will contact you.

Benefits of partnering with us include:

• Brand awareness: Be seen by a highly targeted and engaged audience before, during, and after the conference.
• Lead generation: Meet the decision-makers and influencers responsible for making purchasing decisions on cyber security and data protection.
• Thought leadership: Position your organisation and experts as thought leaders and the ‘go to’ experts.
• Networking: Make valuable connections with potential new customers and partners across government and the wider public sector
• Grow your business: Reach decision makers in a single event on just one day and in one location (with no travel/accommodation required), saving you time and money.
• Gain valuable insights: Hear the latest from key stakeholders in government, and across the public and voluntary sectors.

IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.

All packages include:

• Extensive branding – before, during, after the conference
• 15-20 min morning speaking session with Q&A
• Virtual stand to showcase your organisation, products, services, and solutions
• Opportunities to network during the day
• Half to full page ad in the E-Guide
• Banner ad on the virtual events platform
• Announcement post on LinkedIn
• Announcement within delegate communication
• 1-3 delegate places (worth upto £1,947)
• Access to the delegate details after the event
• Ongoing exposure through OnDemand (coming soon)

For more information and discuss your specific objectives, please contact Chris and Ali at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here

Virtual vs F2F

Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:

• Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
• Lower sponsorship package costs
• No travel/accommodation
• Less time out of the office
• No stand materials required (lower costs)
• 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
• Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
• Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
• Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access (coming soon)

To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact Chris and Ali at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here

• Public Sector: £449+VAT
• Voluntary Sector: £379+VAT
• Private Sector: £649+VAT