Reducing the gap! Reciprocal mentoring between Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) students and senior leaders at the University of Gloucestershire

Abstract

The attainment gap in Higher Education outcomes between under-represented ethnic minority groups and the white student body is a problem at a variety of institutions around the UK, requiring immediate and sustained interventions and actions. The issue will not be solved by specific interventions and changes in practice but instead will require a multi-pronged approach with a variety of actions that may have small or big impacts in different areas. This paper summarises one of the positive actions taken at the University of Gloucestershire in the form of a reciprocal mentoring programme, where senior leaders in the organisation were paired in a two-way mentoring scheme with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) students.