Inclusion and inclusivity: a reflective critical discussion.
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| Title: | Inclusion and inclusivity: a reflective critical discussion. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Potter, Andrew1 andrew.potter@open.ac.uk |
| Source: | Widening Participation & Lifelong Learning. Aug2025, Vol. 27 Issue 2, p155-163. 9p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Diversity & inclusion policies, *Higher education, *Minority students, *Curriculum, Inclusion (Disability rights), Neoliberalism, Equality, Participation |
| Abstract: | Words matter, and the use of the word ‘inclusion’ is no exception. The words ‘inclusion’, ‘inclusivity’ and ‘inclusive’ have seen increasing prominence in widening participation, and yet it is not always clear that we are all talking about the same concept or working towards a common goal. Moreover, I argue the concept of inclusion is often paired with equality/equity and/or diversity without critical evaluation of whether this is appropriate. Increasingly, these semantic tensions play out in universities’ efforts towards building an ‘inclusive curriculum’. Uncritical use of that term risks unwisely conflating a rich variety of approaches and being appropriated towards ends that run counter to equity and justice for marginalised students. As universities move towards implementation of inclusion, I use the metaphor of an ‘inclusivity machine’ to illustrate the problems with viewing inclusion as a process to be operationalised within the neoliberal university. I conclude with a reflection on whether inclusion is the goal to which universities and practitioners should aspire. This discussion piece will critically reflect on uses of the word ‘inclusion’, drawing f rom personal experience and the literature, and conclude with a call for greater clarity and criticality in future usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Widening Participation & Lifelong Learning is the property of Open University, Centre for Widening Participation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 187873538 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Inclusion and inclusivity: a reflective critical discussion. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Potter%2C+Andrew%22">Potter, Andrew</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> andrew.potter@open.ac.uk</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Widening+Participation+%26+Lifelong+Learning%22">Widening Participation & Lifelong Learning</searchLink>. Aug2025, Vol. 27 Issue 2, p155-163. 9p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Diversity+%26+inclusion+policies%22">Diversity & inclusion policies</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+education%22">Higher education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Minority+students%22">Minority students</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Curriculum%22">Curriculum</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Inclusion+%28Disability+rights%29%22">Inclusion (Disability rights)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Neoliberalism%22">Neoliberalism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Equality%22">Equality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Participation%22">Participation</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Words matter, and the use of the word ‘inclusion’ is no exception. The words ‘inclusion’, ‘inclusivity’ and ‘inclusive’ have seen increasing prominence in widening participation, and yet it is not always clear that we are all talking about the same concept or working towards a common goal. Moreover, I argue the concept of inclusion is often paired with equality/equity and/or diversity without critical evaluation of whether this is appropriate. Increasingly, these semantic tensions play out in universities’ efforts towards building an ‘inclusive curriculum’. Uncritical use of that term risks unwisely conflating a rich variety of approaches and being appropriated towards ends that run counter to equity and justice for marginalised students. As universities move towards implementation of inclusion, I use the metaphor of an ‘inclusivity machine’ to illustrate the problems with viewing inclusion as a process to be operationalised within the neoliberal university. I conclude with a reflection on whether inclusion is the goal to which universities and practitioners should aspire. This discussion piece will critically reflect on uses of the word ‘inclusion’, drawing f rom personal experience and the literature, and conclude with a call for greater clarity and criticality in future usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Widening Participation & Lifelong Learning is the property of Open University, Centre for Widening Participation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=187873538 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.5456/WPLL.27.2.155 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 9 StartPage: 155 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Diversity & inclusion policies Type: general – SubjectFull: Higher education Type: general – SubjectFull: Minority students Type: general – SubjectFull: Curriculum Type: general – SubjectFull: Inclusion (Disability rights) Type: general – SubjectFull: Neoliberalism Type: general – SubjectFull: Equality Type: general – SubjectFull: Participation Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Inclusion and inclusivity: a reflective critical discussion. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Potter, Andrew IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 08 Text: Aug2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 14666529 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 27 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: Widening Participation & Lifelong Learning Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
