Changing Mindsets

A Office for Students funded project focused on closing attainment gaps in higher education

International Women’s Day: The importance of female role-models

In honour of International Women’s Day, Laura Watson, Project Officer for Changing Mindsets at the University of Winchester, has written about the importance of having female role-models in academia to eliminate biases.

What We Learn, We Learn by ‘Doing’

Rayvenn Shaleigha D’Clark, BA Fine Art Alumni of Camberwell College of Arts, University of the Arts London (UAL), Visual Artist and Junior Editor at Shades of Noir, shares her reflection on her work with the Creative Mindsets team at UAL.

Staff and student perceptions and experiences of Changing Mindsets

As part of the Changing Mindsets project we conducted a (peripheral) qualitative study relevant to our university context. We wanted to identify ways in which the Mindset workshops influenced: students’ and staff perceptions and experiences of learning, teaching and support concerning: belonging, engagement, identity development, confidence and success.

Sitting at the table: Vikki Hill and Emma Clayton

In this post, Vikki Hill outlines the work of the UAL Creative Mindsets Team over the past 3 months and introduces Emma Clayton who considers the positioning and responsibility of team members in facilitating workshops.

Changing Mindsets or Changing Culture? Why not both! A reflection of the 2018 Changing Mindsets Mid-Project Conference

This blog piece will reflect upon the 2018 Changing Mindsets Mid-Project Conference from my perspective as both a delegate and student panellist from the University of Winchester.

UAL Changing Mindsets Workshop with Grayson Perry

Author: Vikki Hill, Project Officer, University of the Arts London UAL Changing Mindsets Workshops with Grayson Perry at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London (UAL) on 14th February 2018 “Transvestism is not the most interesting thing about me”

Changing Mindsets Conference

Conference Details Date: 28th June 2018 Time: 9:30am – 5:30pm Location: Park Building, King Henry I St, Portsmouth, PO1 2BZ Space is limited; registration is required Please join us at our mid-project conference, in which we will share initial findings from

Black Academics and the Attainment Gap – Some Reflections

Author: Patricia Gilbert, PhD Researcher – University of Portsmouth Patricia Gilbert started as a PhD Researcher at the University of Portsmouth in October 2017. Her PhD research will investigate the factors that have contributed to the success of students from

What may be thought against our thought: Changing Mindsets & the Decolonised Curriculum Part 1

Author: Liam Greenslade, Project Officer – Canterbury Christ Church University In October 2017 a large photograph of Cambridge University Women’s Officer Lola Olufemi appeared on the front page of the Daily Telegraph beneath the headline ‘Student forces Cambridge to drop

Considering barriers to engagement

Author: Karl C. Alvestad, Project Officer – University of Winchester In recent weeks the Winchester research team for the Changing Mindsets project have observed that we have had a declining number of students attending our interventions and sessions in general,

Opportunity over obstacles: the role of mindsets and student mental health

Authors: Catherine McConnell, Aidan Davis, and Michelle Butler – University of Brighton We’ve recently finished another exhilarating round of Changing Mindset workshops for staff here across the University of Brighton. Each workshop stimulating discussions on an exhaustive list of topics and connections

Improving feedback through an understanding of Growth Mindsets

Author: Arif Mahmud, Project Officer – University of Portsmouth The purpose of ‘good’ feedback is to develop students’ understanding and translate this understanding into productive, effective behavioural change that leads to growth (Forsythe & Johnson,2017). Some students understand the importance

‘From Implicit Bias to Unconscious Non-Bias’ – Vikki Hill with Dr Gurnam Singh

Author: Vikki Hill, Project Officer, University of the Arts London Vikki Hill (UAL Project Officer for Changing Mindsets) in conversation with Dr Gurnam Singh (Principal Lecturer in Social Work at Coventry University and Visiting Fellow in Race and Education at UAL) about barriers

Visibility, the Gap and Success

Author: Karl C. Alvestad, Project Officer – University of Winchester My first encounter with the attainment and awarding gaps in higher education came in 2015-16, when I undertook a small research project into the inclusivity of the curriculum at University

An Individual Solution to a Structural Problem?

Author: Jenny Terry, Project Officer – University of Brighton When faced with a room full of the University of Brighton’s notoriously critical social scientists, I will admit to being somewhat apprehensive about trying to sell them the concepts behind the