Romany & Gypsy Travellers

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Event overview

This event is part of the NERUPI series on Student Characteristics in the OfS Equal Opportunities Risk Register.  The first part of the session will provide a brief history of Romany and Gypsy Travellers in the UK along with an overview of the current situation in relation to schooling and participation in higher education.  Three practice examples from NERUPI member universities will provide examples of how higher education can engage constructively with local communities. For NERUPI Members only.  You should check here.  Your institution is likely a NERUPI member.  

Political Affairs in higher education 2026

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Event overview

At a time when the sector is grappling with the full implications of the Comprehensive Spending Review and the direction set out in the Post-16 Education and Skills Strategy/White Paper, which aims to drive national renewal through collaboration.  This event from Universities UK – in-person and online – provides a crucial platform to analyse the evolving political and economic context and understand the implementation of key strategic priorities affecting higher education.  This period necessitates a shift toward medium- and longer-term structural change beyond traditional efficiency measures. The conference will focus on the most critical political and strategic issues facing UK universities in the run-up to 2027, particularly addressing how institutions can put themselves on a secure financial footing.  Delegates will engage in a range of political and policy insights through practical workshops and plenaries, guided by leading political and policy commentators.  There will also be great networking opportunities among delegates and speakers.  

The Supporting Disadvantaged Students in Higher Education Conference 2026

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Event overview

Government Events’ The Supporting Disadvantaged Students in Higher Education Conference 2026 will explore the latest research, policies and updates shaping equality and access in higher education.  Hear from leading organisations and practitioners on widening participation, supporting student wellbeing, improving retention and strengthening routes into higher education across all regions.  This online conference also offers opportunities to connect with colleagues across the sector and share approaches that help ensure every student can access and benefit from higher education. Although undergraduate acceptances have risen in 2025, growth remains below expectations, and the divide between disadvantaged students and their peers is still striking.  Young people who were eligible for free school meals continue to enter higher education at far lower rates, (28.9% of pupils who were eligible for free school meals at age 15 entered higher education by age 19 in 2023/24 compared to 49% for non-eligible pupils), and access to the most selective universities is even more uneven. 4% of disadvantaged pupils progressed to high tariff providers compared to 15.1% for their peers from more advantaged backgrounds.  At the same time, financial pressures on institutions and students are intensifying, increasing the urgency of creating stable student-centred systems of support.  

Doctoral belonging and inclusion in the academy: exploring marginalised identities and considering possibilities for change

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Event overview

In this event, from the Society for Research into Higher Education speakers draw on discourses of belonging and inclusion to consider how doctoral students experience the academy, using a range of empirical work to reflect on the challenges for those from marginalised groups, including international, racially minoritised and women doctoral students.  Doctoral students experience challenges in developing a sense of belonging within academic communities due to their liminal status within the academy; something not fully acknowledged or understood by institutions and those working with doctoral students.  Inequalities relating to race, gender, disability and social class influence individuals’ ability to access, feel a sense of belonging to, and imagine a future within, the contemporary academy; especially for those facing intersecting forms of discrimination.  The consequences of not belonging as a doctoral student are considerable, with implications for individual’s wellbeing, progression and retention within doctoral programmes, as well as longer-term career aspirations and outcomes. Presenters examine the position of doctoral students within academic hierarchies, drawing attention to how different forms of discrimination act as barriers to belonging.  Attendees will consider the implications of not belonging for individuals, institutions, and the future of the higher education sector, and together imagine what actions might present possibilities for change.