New volume 'uncovering islamophobia in higher education: Supporting the success of Muslim students and staff' published

An important and timely new volume, "Uncovering Islamophobia in Higher Education: Supporting the Success of Muslim Students and Staff", has just been published, edited by Dr Maisha Islam and Arif Mahmud. This groundbreaking collection 📚 places the lived experiences of Muslim staff and students at the heart of the discussion, while also exploring practical tools and policy solutions to address the disparities that hinder access, progression, and attainment in higher education.

🎓 Aimed at higher education practitioners, senior university leaders, and race equality policy experts, this volume is an essential resource for those committed to fostering inclusivity on university campuses. Dr Zain Sardar, Programme Manager at The Aziz Foundation, contributes a compelling chapter, "The 'New' Intersectionality of Disadvantage? British Muslims and the Widening Participation Agenda". His analysis sheds light on how British Muslims have been systematically excluded from evolving frameworks designed to enhance access to higher education.

In welcoming the publication, Dr Zain Sardar praised the editors for their dedication, stating:

“The editors deserve immense credit for carefully curating such insightful contributions. The collective voices of British Muslim practitioners and researchers - who work within or alongside the higher education sector - offer a powerful call for institutional change. I strongly encourage university leaders to engage deeply with this work. I hope it serves as a catalyst for action in the urgent mission to dismantle institutional Islamophobia.” 💬

Co-editor Dr Maisha Islam also reflected on the significance of the book:

💡 “At a time when Muslims globally continue to face deep-rooted challenges, this collection captures the voices and expertise of Muslim students and staff in UK higher education - spanning teaching, scholarship, policy, and professional transitions. While exposing the inequalities and the comparative silence experienced as a minoritised group, the book also offers hope, providing universities and sector bodies with the necessary tools to challenge and break cycles of inequity. This volume is essential reading for HE stakeholders invested in diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

✨ This vital publication is a must-read for anyone committed to creating a more just and equitable higher education system.