Last analyse: Changing the inequality issue in UK universities

There are some problems that have plagued human society for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Inequality, and all the negative consequences arising from inequality, is one of these. Whether the lack of equity comes as a result of the class, gender, race, or some other uncontrollable factor of life - there's no denying that this is one of the greatest issues that we as a species must tackle.

This kind of inequality pervades all areas of society but is particularly felt by university students. Owing to a greater awareness of inequality thanks to their high level of education and being directly impacted by its effects, students are particularly keen to research and write papers about equality. There are countless essay examples that offer an understanding of the problem of social inequality, and browsing essays on equality is a great way to begin to understand the issue. Many students have devoted their research to solving inequality issues and may be curious as to what measures have been taken to do so in their own environments.

Thanks to the efforts of activists, writers, and politicians, there are examples of steps being taken towards tackling inequality in UK universities. Over the past years, there have been some landmark steps taken to change and improve the treatment of students from all different backgrounds throughout their higher education. Here's a list of some of the major and most effective steps that universities have taken in an effort to remain as equal and inclusive as possible.

Needs-blind admission

A number of universities across the UK have chosen to adopt a "needs-blind" approach when allocating some of their admission spaces. This means assessing an applicant's candidacy for a spot without taking into consideration their financial background and ability to pay tuition fees. Doing so encourages students from more diverse backgrounds to apply, and places an emphasis upon merit as opposed to continuing an elitist system. Hopefully, more and more universities can adopt a similar approach as time goes on, as needs-blind admission is one of the best ways to create social equality in a college setting!

Equality policies

Most of the UK's major universities have chosen to adopt "equality policies" in recent years. These are written statements that outline a dedication to approaching and tackling the issue of inequality within the university institution. A lot of universities did so in response to the Equality Act issued by the government in 2010, which offered new guidelines for how institutions should implement equality measures. Most universities' equality policies will state a dedication to diversification and offer a guarantee that instances of mistreatment based on gender, identity, or race will be met with serious investigation and repercussions.

Claims processes

While the stereotype of universities may be that of an open-minded space full of accepting people, this is unfortunately not always the case. Even in the progressive spaces of higher education, there can still be a lot of negative treatment towards minority groups or disadvantages beset by racial or gender-based reasons. In an attempt to curb instances of such, many universities have adopted formal claims processes that students can go through to report inequality. These claims processes can be found in schools across the country and allow both teachers and students to protect themselves from mistreatment. Every student should familiarise themselves with the official claims process that their school has for reporting instances of prejudice and inequality if they ever need to make such a problem known.

These are just a few of the most instrumental changes that universities across the UK have adopted in the past years to curb inequality's negative impacts. These measures are, of course, a step in the right direction; however, real change needs to come from everyone. Whether a teen busy with study in school or a high-ranking decision-maker in the government, we need to work together to create a system that places equal value on all its citizens.