As the theme lead for Inclusive Student Experience, my everyday activities revolve around working with people who are passionate about helping students.

The motto of my work is “giving students the keys to their own success”. It might sound cliché, but I think it has great truths. By giving students the keys, we enable them and create equity in the educational system. We then allow them their own autonomy to choose whether to open the door or not and follow their own path.

Being inclusive means creating opportunities for all, removing any barriers that might be a holdover from previous eras, or due to areas or issues we don’t experience. My own research focuses on Decolonising the curriculum in my home department of Biosciences and also improving educational outcomes in students with disabilities. These are key challenges in the Inclusive Student Experience theme. Other strands in the theme are reducing or eliminating awarding gaps or increasing cross-cultural awareness, the international student experience and even how reflective practice and international collaboration can lead to better student outcomes.

Each one of these areas can be a challenge, but with the right keys, they can be unlocked!