The concept of belonging is notoriously hard to define.
Despite ‘belonging’ being the buzzword in universities – and known to contribute to student success -there has been relatively little insight at a sector-wide level. Covid-19 dialled up the barriers to creating student belonging, and as the country emerged from the lockdown restrictions, it became clear that re-engaging students would be a significant challenge.
Over the last year, Wonkhe and Pearson have worked with staff and students to build a rich and multifaceted understanding of student belonging. The staff and students involved in the research taught us more about belonging and inclusion than we ever could have predicted and gave us a wealth of insights from which we could analyse the conditions and interactions that contribute to feelings of belonging. The report we are launching today identifies tangible ways that institutions can re-engage students and help them develop a sense of belonging.
