Mainstreaming EDI in Higher Education: A Policy Practitioner Perspective

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Abstract
This chapter addresses the broad challenge of developing and implementing the processes, tools and techniques by which to mainstream the values of equality, diversity and inclusion in higher education. We first examine the meaning of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and a commitment to mainstreaming in a higher education context, noting that commitments to EDI can be challenging and contested. The literature on mainstreaming of EDI at national, EU and international levels is suggestive of a wide range of techniques for organisations to more effectively live their EDI commitments. Secondly, we consider and evaluate against the international literature the experience of implementing a range of mainstreaming techniques for EDI in higher education (HE) in Ireland. Mainstreaming techniques for EDI in HE in Ireland range between data collection and dissemination, national reports and policies, externally accredited charters, communication, competitions and behavioural measures. Thirdly we offer some conclusions on the mix of multiple and overlapping measures to support EDI mainstreaming, with a degree of redundancy and continuing reflection and adaptation to changing circumstance, to mainstream EDI in institutional practices and culture.

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