Events

Tackling Degree Awarding Gaps in Higher Education

Date: 18th May 2026

Location: London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London SE1 OAA - in person

Please note this event is for Members only

NERUPI is now taking bookings for the Degree Awarding Gaps Conference 2026, an in-person event exploring persistent disparities in higher education outcomes and practical approaches to achieving equity.

Despite over a decade of sector attention in UK higher education, persistent disparities remain in undergraduate degree outcomes across race, class, disability and other minoritised groups. Research has shown that these disparities do not stem from student deficits but from systemic and institutional factors manifesting as deep-seated cultural, pedagogical and curricula practices that underpin the degree awarding gap. Although the OfS’ 2018 target to reduce the Black–White degree awarding gap signalled a national commitment, progress in eliminating the gaps has been slow and uneven.

However, meaningful transformation is possible through strong institutional leadership, purposeful collaboration, innovative practice and sustained commitment to success for all. This conference brings together practitioners (access/outreach, student success, academic development staff) academics, researchers and students to interrogate root causes, explore solutions, and share practical approaches to embedding equity and belonging across higher education, with the aim of eliminating awarding gaps.

This event is kindly hosted by London South Bank University.

See the programme here

Conference Themes

  • Race, ethnicity, and intersectionality in student degree outcomes
  • Disability, neurodiversity, and inclusive learning
  • Class, cost of living, and material inequalities
  • Curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment reform
  • Student engagement, belonging, and representation
  • Institutional systems, leadership, and accountability
  • Evaluating impact and measuring progress

Speakers

  • Professor Zainab Khan, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic Resources and Transformation), London South Bank University
  • Professor Tony Moss, Pro Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience, London South Bank University
  • Marva de la Coudray, Director of Learning and Teaching, London Metropolitan University
  • Louise Banahene, PFHEA, MBE, Director of Student Success and Educational Engagement, University of Leeds
  • Shames Maskeen, Associate Director of The Race Institute and Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Leeds Trinity University
  • Kathleen M Quinlan, Associate Dean for Student Experience, College of Health and Life Sciences, London South Bank University
  • Ian Turner, Interim Head of Biomedical and Forensic Science,
    University of Derby

Presentations

1. No Gaps: An institution wide approach to closing continuation,completion and awarding gaps for all equity groups, Jill Webb, Liz Thomas, Jan Ball-Smith, Jess Penn, University of York

2. Developing academics as Diversity Mark Practitioners, Lucy Panesar, University of Kent

3. TEF Black: (Re-)defining Teaching 'Excellence' as Commitment to Educational Justice, Josephine Gabi, Manchester Metropolitan University, Yetunde Kolajo, University of Kent

4. Applying Intersectional Discrimination to Understanding BAME Male Awarding Gaps, Dami Folayan, Tim Robson, Arden University

5. Building Blocks for Inclusive Practice: Embedding Equity to Improve Progression, Retention, Awarding Gaps and Student Success, Dipa Kamdar, Kingston University

6. From Diagnosis to Design: Using the Working Diagnosis Model to Close Disability-Related Awarding Gaps, Charlotte Stewart, Buckinghamshire New University

7. From Insight to Action: Using Staff Voice to Address Degree Awarding Gaps, Dan West, University of Derby,

8. Bridging the Gap: From Structured Intervention to Student Agency, Tamar McPherson, SOAS

Workshops

  1. Addressing the ethnicity awarding gap by creating psychologically safe spaces Kierra Bunting, Vanessa Dodd, University of Staffordshire,
  2. The cost of learning, Becky Hart, Rosie Jones, Kings and Sussex,
  3. Impact Evaluation in Higher Education: From Problem Tree to Theory of Change, Bilal Hazzouri, ARU - Interactive workshop
  4. Supporting BTEC Student Success: A model for academic staff development, Nikki Anghileri, Julia Brennan, St Mary’s University

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