Charting the Future of EDI in UK Higher Education: Challenges and Contributions

A UEL/CGHE Policy Roundtable Series

University of East London in conjunction with the Centre for Global Higher Education, University of Oxford

This three-part CGHE policy roundtable webinar series brings together senior leaders, policymakers, researchers and practitioners to explore the future of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) within UK higher education.

While EDI has become embedded within institutional strategies globally, it is increasingly subject to political scrutiny, legal challenge, and public debate. The first webinar explores how universities are responding to these challenges, the second investigates the hidden costs of equity work, and the third explores the contribution and impact of DEI initiatives.

This series seeks to move beyond questions of commitment towards a more critical inquiry: how can EDI be positioned, evidenced and sustained as a credible driver of institutional performance, research excellence and public value?

Convened by Jeff Grim (George Mason University and Visiting Research Fellow, Department of Education, Oxford) and Jummy Okoya, Dean of Office for Institutional Equity, UEL.

Equity under Pressure: Policy, politics, and Institutional Response

Thursday 11 June, 2pm – 3.30pm (UK time), Hybrid/Seminar room E.

There are increasing global pressures to constrain policies, practices, and structures that support equitable educational and work environments. Even without explicit policy changes, higher education leaders are facing political and reputational pressures that are impacting U.K. higher education. This first policy roundtable will focus on the challenges facing U.K. higher education leaders and address research and strategies for institutional responses.

Register to attend online.

There’s no need to register if attending in-person.

The Hidden Cost of Equity Work: Labour, Risk, and Sustainability 

Thursday 18 June, 2pm – 3.30pm (UK time), Hybrid/Seminar room E.

Creating equitable educational and work environments can be a herculean task that requires structure, accountability, resources, innovation, and sustained institutional commitment. Often, those doing equity work have to rely on a patchwork quilt of informal networks, limited resources, and personal passion to change policy and support marginalized students and staff. This comes at a cost, especially when political forces create unnecessary pressures. Through research and personal experiences, this second policy roundtable in the series will examine the often invisible labour of equity work, and its impact on staff wellbeing

Register to attend online.

There’s no need to register if attending in-person.

The Necessity of Equity Work: Multi-Frame Value and Impact 

Thursday 25 June, 2pm – 3.30pm (UK time), Hybrid/Seminar Room E

EDI work is enacted differently depending on organizational needs and context, yet political detractors paint equity work with broad strokes as unnecessary and unfair. In this final DEI policy roundtable discussion, UK higher education leaders and experts will discuss how EDI work contributes to institutional missions and performance outcomes, especially in protecting the expression of ideas and speech and in advancing organizational effectiveness. In particular, the discussion will focus on how EDI work can showcase and evidence impact.

Register to attend online.

There’s no need to register if attending in-person.