Collaborative Approaches to Widening Participation: Improving University Access, Participation, and Success

Collaborative Approaches to Widening Participation (WP) offers a much-needed look into how academic and professional university staff can work together to transform access and participation in higher education. Using original empirical research and applying practical guidance, it explores the challenges and opportunities of breaking down boundaries within universities, demonstrating the transformative impact of sustained collaboration on fair access and participation.

Drawing on UK and global perspectives, the book demonstrates how collaboratively designed WP interventions have provided enduring insights into undergraduate teaching and learning. It introduces six pedagogic principles developed through this process, which continue to shape academic practices. The author illustrates how collaboration significantly enhances WP targets and outcomes while fostering stronger relationships between academic and professional staff through shared experiences and the co-construction of knowledge. By bridging the divide between policy and practice, the book also examines action research as a powerful methodology for driving social justice, equity, and inclusion.

Essential reading for educators, researchers, and university staff, this book is not only a call to action but also a roadmap for those seeking to create lasting change in higher education. It challenges readers to rethink traditional approaches to access and participation, advocating for a collaborative model that prioritises equity, inclusion, and the success of all students.