As part of the increasing success of the Reading List Diversity Mark Project in Phase 1, Professor Kathleen M. Quinlan from the Centre of the Study for HE (CSHE) with Co-Investigators Dr Barbara Adewumi and Dr Ellen Dowie from Student Success, were awarded £60,000 from the Centre for Transforming Access and Student Outcomes (TASO) to evaluate the impact of the Diversity Mark initiative in the SSPSSR Diversity Mark Project on the degree-awarding gap between white and Black, Asian and minority ethnic students.
This research consisting of student focus groups, staff interviews quantitative data analysis and student surveys illuminated the mechanisms through which curricular diversification reduces the degree-awarding gap, and suggested key areas for further development of curricula and enhancing student outcomes using Diversity Mark in SSPSSR.
Overall, the research found no conclusive evidence supporting the effectiveness of the Diversity Mark Initiative in reducing the racial attainment gap among the SSPSSR students at the University of Kent. However, the observed trend among BAME students’ attainment before and after the initiative, though not significant, was positive. Therefore, TASO considered the initiative an innovative approach to address the racial attainment gap that is worth continued evaluation.
We believe, in the long term, our Student Success evaluation framework in collaboration with staff and students will have a significant impact on enhancing the experiences of students, particularly BAME students, and on reducing the degree-awarding gap at Kent.