ÌÇÐÄTV

Neurodiversity in Higher Education (National) Conference

Neurodiversity NetworkLink opens in a new window

Co-leads: Dr Jagjeet Jutley-Neilson (Psychology), Prof Olympia Palikara (SELCS)

This project documented the third Neurodiversity in Higher Education Conference, held at ÌÇÐÄTV in September 2025. The event brought together 110 attendees for research talks, interactive sessions, and creative workshops, with keynotes from Prof Gina Rippon (Aston University) and Dr Brian Irvine (UCL). Supported by WIHEA, ÌÇÐÄTV Inclusive Education, the Dean of Students, and student societies, to advance understanding and inclusion in higher education.

Project Outcomes:

• Enhanced understanding of how neurodiversity is experienced in higher education
• Helping to benchmark current inclusion and belonging practices
• Gathered insights from neurodivergent students, staff, and practitioners
• Helped to identify practices that strengthen belonging and participation
• Highlighted barriers and gaps in institutional support
• Explored effective engagement activities across the sector

Staff-Student Collaboration - Student Action for Refugees (STAR) Annual Charity Summit

Employability Learning CircleLink opens in a new window

Co-leads:Laura Yetton (Flexible Online Learning), Marion Patel (Student Opportunity)

Supporting this student–staff co‑created employability initiative led by ÌÇÐÄTV STAR (Student Action for Refugees) and the Employer Engagement team, this event brought together keynote speakers, a panel discussion, an opportunities fair, and a skills workshop, connecting charities and NGOs to reach over 200 students. The Learning Circle funded a networking lunch that supported students interacting with career enhancing opportunities at the fair element of the event, strengthening relationships between students, employers, and the wider charity sector.

Project Outcomes:

• Created a shared space for staff and students to discuss employability and views on employability in the curriculum

• Worked with student societies to gather insights
• Supported Learning Circle activity through feedback and student fellow input
• Increased the diversity of student voice
• Shared best practice and increased awareness of the employability and skills agenda
• Showcased a new partnership model beyond traditional careers fairs

Embedding Belonging into Curriculum

Building Belonging Learning CircleLink opens in a new window

Co-leads: Inca Hide-Wright (Leadership and Management) and Sarah Bennett (Student Opportunity)

Further to the Learning Circle, (which operated as a task‑and‑finish group through to summer 2026), creating a Building Belonging Framework, this project now aims to operationalise and strategically integrate the Framework into ÌÇÐÄTV curricula across all three faculties. The funding supports the continued staff-student collaborative implementation phase of the Framework to embed it into curricula.

Project Aims:

• Maintain the staff-student collaborative approach that was instrumental in creating the belonging framework

• Support student participation in the Embedding Belonging into Curriculum workshop design and delivery, facilitating the sharing of knowledge and best practices related to ÌÇÐÄTV's Framework across the institution and the wider higher education sector.

• Enable students to actively engage in the embedding of the framework through hands-on application and user feedback

• Empower students to translate practice into principle by training them to analyse case studies and co-produce actionable resources.

Qualitative Compassion Fatigue Project

Compassionate Pedagogy Learning CircleLink opens in a new window

Co-leads: Dr Gemma Gray (Psychology), Dr Luke Hodson (Psychology)

This project will examine compassion fatigue in higher education through the Compassionate Pedagogy Learning Circle. It will explore how academic staff experience compassion fatigue when supporting students, addressing a gap in HE research and informing future compassionate pedagogy practice.

Project Aims:

• Review key literature on compassion fatigue
• Develop a semi‑structured interview guide
• Recruit academic staff with pastoral roles
• Conduct 8–10 online interviews
• Transcribe and analyse data using Reflexive Thematic Analysis
• Share findings through publications and events
• Use insights to guide future work in the Compassionate Pedagogy Learning Circle

Mature Student Experience Symposium

Mature Students Experience Learning CircleLink opens in a new window

Co-leads: Nalita James and Anil Awesti, (Lifelong Learning)

The Mature Student Experience Symposium will bring staff and students together to develop a better understanding of what it means to be a mature student at ÌÇÐÄTV and, in doing so, identify common challenges to inform institutional work in the area.
Building on the Learning Circle’s pilot survey,

the symposium will further contribute to putting the student voice at the centre of the institution’s provision for mature students by ensuring that developments are made in accordance with their particular needs and lived experiences.

Project Aims:

• Actively shape institutional policy to be more inclusive, develop and champion tangible, on-the-ground practices that foster a true sense of belonging and academic partnership.

• Contribute to the Learning Circle’s work to bridge the gap between institutional ambition and the lived reality of its students, cultivating a deeply supportive and intellectually stimulating environment in which mature learners can thrive at ÌÇÐÄTV.

Mapping of ÌÇÐÄTV Internationalisation Activities

Internationalisation Learning CircleLink opens in a new window

Co-leads: Daniel Jones (Global Academy) and Dr Massimiliano Tamborrino (Statistics)

There are a wide range of ways to engage students in internationalisation, including student mobility, learning from fellow students, internationalisation in the curriculum and much more. The exchange of ideas, practices and experience across the disciplines is always much valued by colleagues. This project supports the Learning Circle to

continue undertaking a review of current and archived resources and projects which relate to internationalisation, with a focus on academic departments, cross-faculty centres and targeted ÌÇÐÄTV colleagues, thus enabling such exchanges to take place.

Project Aims:

• To populate and expand the current searchable database on internationalisation initiatives and events.

• Enhance the accessibility of existing resources and showcase the vibrant and rich internationalisation life, culture and offer at ÌÇÐÄTV
• Enhance the international student experience

• Support ÌÇÐÄTV's International Strategy 2024–2030.

Employability Learning Circle

Co-leads: Laura Yetton (Dept), Marion Patel (Dept)

This project will introduce paid Student Employability Champions through the Employability Learning Circle (ELC) to strengthen the embedding of employability and future-ready graduate skills across the University of ÌÇÐÄTV. It will enhance student voice, support collaboration between staff, students, and employers, and contribute to evidence-informed employability practice.

Project Aims:

• Build a shared understanding of employability and increase student involvement

• Recruit and support Student Employability Champions to co-create initiatives

• Gather student and employer insights to inform skills development

• Work with departments to embed employability within curricula

• Share best practice through workshops, events, and reports

• Use data and feedback to improve engagement and inform strategy

Phase 2: Exploring Student and Staff Perspectives on Preparedness and Ongoing Support for Teamwork

Co-leads: Mujthaba Ahtamad (WMG) and Ian Saunders (Computer Science)

A Handbook for Public and Community Engagement Pedagogies

Co-leads: Laura Gelhaus (PAIS) and Rachel Turner-King (Education Studies)