Project title: Embedding Systemic Inclusion for Neurodiverse and Disabled Engineering Students
Funding awarded: £93,667
Summary:
This project takes a system level approach to the experience of inclusion/exclusion for neurodiverse and disabled engineering students. It considers interventions that motivate stronger engagement and identification with engineering for students from these groups, and has an equal focus on the institutional factors that affect outcomes. Interventions cover the creation of new accountability structures, co-creation methods applied to content creation, staff training, raising awareness of the lived experience of disabled and neurodiverse students as well as the creation of tools for use across the institution and beyond.
What need does the project address?
The School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics has around 21% of students in the three engineering subjects that are registered disabled. These students experience an awarding gap of around 7%. The project focus is to improve the experience and sense of inclusion of disabled students within the population.
What does the project consist of?
The range of interventions includes mentoring with external partners, increasing visibility of role models through a new lecture series, micro-internships to develop employability skills, networking sessions designed with the needs of neurodiverse students at the centre, a webinar series focusing on confidence, leadership and management skills and access to a bespoke Pathways Programme led by Equal Engineers. This activity is complemented by interventions designed to drive sustained change in behaviour and practice within the institution’s workforce and organisational structures.
What are the expected outcomes?
For the student cohort the key outcome is improved employment opportunities and employability skills. There is also an anticipation that Increased visibility of role models will instil belief and confidence in the students.
For the institution, the elements of co-creation and specialist input will improve understanding of intersectionality (individuals in the cohort experience have multiple intersecting identities and lived experiences). In addition, major barriers for neurodiverse and disabled students will be identified and addressed.