Northumbria university

Northumbria University is strongly determined to widen access for marginalised communities. Indeed, more than half of its entrants are from the North East, the region where young people are least likely to attend higher education. Over 40% of Northumbria’s students are from low-participation backgrounds, a figure that has increased in recent years.

Located in Newcastle, the institution is very keen to engender an inclusive learning culture and to eliminate racial disparities for its staff and students, demonstrated by holding an Advance HE Race Equality Charter Bronze Award.

There are several initiatives and programmes in place to narrow the awarding gap, including mandatory equality and diversity training for all academic and support staff, promotion of unconscious bias awareness sessions, and the development of CPD resources. To understand the lived experience of students, Northumbria carries Race Equality Surveys and gives staff the opportunity to work with Student Inclusion Consultants.

As well as regularly auditing the experience of British Muslim students to understand their lived experiences, there is a dedicated Muslim prayer facility where students can access confidential support.