Social Class, the Overlooked Element of Diversity within Higher Education: An Analysis of Policy Documents and Data Collection Practices by Russell Group Universities in the United Kingdom

Andy Bradshaw; Joanna M. Davies; Lesley Williamson; Beka Torlay; Debbie Braybrook; Hannah Scott; Sabrina Bajwah

doi:10.1177/00380385241286383

Social Class, the Overlooked Element of Diversity within Higher Education: An Analysis of Policy Documents and Data Collection Practices by Russell Group Universities in the United Kingdom

Andy Bradshaw^*, Joanna M. Davies, Lesley Williamson, Beka Torlay, Debbie Braybrook, Hannah Scott, Sabrina Bajwah

^*Corresponding author for this work

Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation

King's College London

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Investigating the data that universities collect on the characteristics of staff and students offers an insight into which aspects of diversity they prioritise. We sent Freedom of Information requests to 24 Russell Group institutions asking them to report the data they collect on the class background and protected characteristics of staff and students. We also reviewed university equality policy documents using content analysis. Analysis showed that while all institutions collect data on the protected characteristics of staff and students, and 18 universities collect data on the class background of students, just one university collects data on the class background of staff. This is despite 10 institutions recognising class background as being an important component of diversity within their policies. We propose recommendations on what data universities should collect on the class background of staff, and how they can use these data to support intersectional diversity.

Original language	English
Journal	Sociology
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/00380385241286383
Publication status	Published - 19 Oct 2024

Keywords

academia
Bourdieu
class inequalities
diversity
higher education
intersectionality
social class
socioeconomic background

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1177/00380385241286383

Cite this

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title = "Social Class, the Overlooked Element of Diversity within Higher Education: An Analysis of Policy Documents and Data Collection Practices by Russell Group Universities in the United Kingdom",

abstract = "Investigating the data that universities collect on the characteristics of staff and students offers an insight into which aspects of diversity they prioritise. We sent Freedom of Information requests to 24 Russell Group institutions asking them to report the data they collect on the class background and protected characteristics of staff and students. We also reviewed university equality policy documents using content analysis. Analysis showed that while all institutions collect data on the protected characteristics of staff and students, and 18 universities collect data on the class background of students, just one university collects data on the class background of staff. This is despite 10 institutions recognising class background as being an important component of diversity within their policies. We propose recommendations on what data universities should collect on the class background of staff, and how they can use these data to support intersectional diversity.",

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AU - Williamson, Lesley

AU - Torlay, Beka

AU - Braybrook, Debbie

AU - Scott, Hannah

AU - Bajwah, Sabrina

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N2 - Investigating the data that universities collect on the characteristics of staff and students offers an insight into which aspects of diversity they prioritise. We sent Freedom of Information requests to 24 Russell Group institutions asking them to report the data they collect on the class background and protected characteristics of staff and students. We also reviewed university equality policy documents using content analysis. Analysis showed that while all institutions collect data on the protected characteristics of staff and students, and 18 universities collect data on the class background of students, just one university collects data on the class background of staff. This is despite 10 institutions recognising class background as being an important component of diversity within their policies. We propose recommendations on what data universities should collect on the class background of staff, and how they can use these data to support intersectional diversity.

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KW - class inequalities

KW - diversity

KW - higher education

KW - intersectionality

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Social Class, the Overlooked Element of Diversity within Higher Education: An Analysis of Policy Documents and Data Collection Practices by Russell Group Universities in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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