Project R-15209

Tackling the EthNic Gap IN higher Education (ENGINE). (Research)

The persistence of ethnic inequalities in higher education institutions (HEIs) - the 'ethnic gap'- is a major societal problem in OECD and particularly in Flanders. The gap reflects the underrepresentation, lower academic achievements, well-being, and belonging of ethnic minority students compared to ethnic majority students. This project aims to tackle this societal problem by promoting a 'Close-the-Gap toolkit' to significantly reduce the ethnic gap and capitalise on the potential of the region's diversifying youth. In the first phase of the project, we will generate a better understanding of the effectiveness of different types of diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) efforts (at the macro-, meso- and microlevel) to reduce the ethnic gap. This will be realized by means of a comprehensive and mixedmethods collection and analysis of large-scale data (a survey with 1200 students and 300 teachers, policy documents of all HEIs) and medium- and small-scale data (interviews, experiments, observations, group discussions) The research will be fully co-created with (ethnic minority) students as co-initiators of this project. In the second phase, these insights will be integrated into a Close-the-Gap toolkit which will provide relevant actors with tailor-made tools to address the ethnic gap: from governing institutions to HEIs (and different actors therein), civil society actors, and (ethnic minority) student associations. The toolkit consists of: 1. Policy reports to raise awareness and diffuse knowledge on the ethnic gap and underlying mechanisms 2. Monitoring tools to evaluate the ethnic gap and the effects of DEI policies 3. A learning platform with training materials to professionalise and/or support HEI policy-makers, teachers, and (ethnic minority) student organizations To ensure a high level of societal impact, 26 key stakeholders from Flanders have committed to this project and to the use and integration of the toolbox into their regular activities.

01 October 2024 - 30 September 2028