Inclusion in practice: Operationalising principles of inclusion and diversity

Abstract

This chapter offers an analysis of the strategies and interventions presented earlier in the collection to illuminate the underlying principles on which inclusive strategy is based. Whilst acknowledging the importance of the context on which the individual equity strategies and interventions are formed, the principles can be applied in all higher education institutions to help establish nuanced, contextually-situated equity practice. These principles include learner centredness, cohesive commitment to inclusivity, epistemological equity, and adopting a radical approach to inclusivity in universities; and together can be deployed to include and celebrate a plurality of bodies and bodies on knowledge in the academy. The chapter finally acknowledges the limitation of basing equity strategy on nation-bound statistics and makes recommendations for considering and striving to achieve equity transnationally.