Furthering the involvement of disabled students in higher education institutions

The project aims to further and mainstream the involvement of disabled students within higher education institutions (HEIs) on a strategic and ongoing basis within institutional policy and practice.

Equality Challenge Unit is working with the Higher Education Academy to support seven diverse HEIs from across the country (six English, one Welsh) as they develop initiatives that will increase and embed the engagement of disabled students.

• Brunel University
• University of Derby
• De Montfort University
• Staffordshire University
• University of Sunderland
• Swansea University
• University of the West of England

The HEIs chosen for the project had well developed applications that demonstrated:

• a commitment to looking at a mix of strategies to further involvement of disabled students across a number of functional areas
• a commitment to senior management participation in the project
• a clear focus on furthering the involvement of disabled students within the institution
• a demonstrable link with the institution's strategic plan and other relevant corporate priorities or policies
• a likelihood of achieving measurable outcomes within the project lifespan
• the use of strategies that are likely to be of interest to other HEIs  

Institutions involved in the project have produced interim reports on the development and success of their work so far. Guidance is currently being produced on how initiatives were implemented by the participating HEIs, and how other institutions can consider adopting ways to engage meaningfully with disabled students. A dissemination event to launch the guidance, Strategic approaches to disabled student engagement, will be held on 9 June 2010.