Presentation Schedule
Listening to Diverse Voices to Support Belonging and Mattering in Higher Education (93940)
Session Chair: Hsin-Jen Chen
Saturday, 12 July 2025 10:25
Session: Session 1
Room: UCL Torrington, B09 (Basement Floor)
Presentation Type:Oral Presentation
A sense of belonging has been linked with numerous positive outcomes for students in higher education (HE). However, research has highlighted a persistent 'loss of community' (Boyer, 1990). Consequently, enhancing belonging and community within HE has emerged as a complex challenge and a thematic priority for practice, research, and quality enhancement bodies. This paper presents ongoing research at Edinburgh Napier University, focusing on student belonging and mattering. The research encompasses three projects that investigate these concepts across diverse contexts, with a particular emphasis on diversity and inclusion. Our research examines the learning experiences of a diverse student population, including undergraduate, postgraduate, domestic, and international students, and explores how assessment and feedback can influence their sense of belonging and mattering. We propose a roadmap for assessment design to support belonging, derived from our findings, aimed at enhancing learning experiences (Haddow & Brodie, 2023a). Beyond the academic environment, we also investigate how extracurricular activities that foster new student-staff communities can cultivate a sense of belonging. This work has informed our model of authentic belonging enhancement, which advocates for a more inclusive understanding of belonging (Haddow & Brodie, 2023b). Our forthcoming project situates these experiences within the broader socio-economic context, addressing the question: Can students afford to belong at university during a cost-of-living crisis? This project aims to explore how HE students in Scotland navigate belonging in these challenging times. By examining how belonging is achieved and shaped through these academic, social, and contextual experiences, we offer deeper insights for its enhancement.
Authors:
Christine Haddow, Edinburgh Napier University, United Kingdom
Jacqueline Brodie, Edinburgh Napier University, United Kingdom
About the Presenter(s)
Dr Christine Haddow is an Associate Professor of Criminology at Edinburgh Napier University, UK.
Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-haddow-05412ba0
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