Embedding social inclusion in universities: how advanced are we?

'By 2020, 20 per cent of undergraduate enrolments in higher education should be students from low socio-economic backgrounds.'

So said the landmark Bradley report in 2008 (p. xiv). This led to a flurry of new policies, programs and practices in universities around Australia. But, four years on:

• What are the main things we have learnt about embedding social inclusion in universities?
• Which current approaches to social inclusion have the greatest potential to withstand the vagaries of unsupportive institutional and political change?
• What are the most significant conceptual as well as practical advances to have emerged?

Drawing on their wealth of knowledge and experience, our panel will address these questions and more.

Professor Adam Howard, Senior Fulbright Specialist visiting Monash, the University of Melbourne and Victoria University, will discuss his research in the USA which looks at how privileged students can be motivated to engage appropriately with social inclusion issues and at how respectful dialogues can be developed between privileged and less privileged students.

Professor Roger Slee is Director of the Victoria Institute for Education, Diversity and Lifelong Learning, was previously the Chair of Inclusive Education at the Institute of Education, University of London, and is the founding Editor of the International Journal of Inclusive Education. He will be the panel discussant.

Professor Trevor Gale, founding Director of Australia's National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education, will focus on policy challenges, including those associated with the current political landscape.

Professor Sue Willis, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Social Inclusion) at Monash University, will discuss the major institutional strategies and tactics she has adopted in her role, highlighting particularly how her thinking has shifted over time.

To register your attendance please email [email protected]