Call for Papers

Special Issue – Fostering Inclusive Higher Education

We are pleased to announce a call for papers for our upcoming thematic issue on “Fostering Inclusive Higher Education.” In recent years, social inclusion has gained significant prominence on the European agenda, as evidenced by the adoption of six equality strategies (Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025, EU Anti-racism Action Plan 2020-2025, EU Roma strategic framework for equality, inclusion and participation, LGBTIQ equality strategy 2020-2025, Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030, Gender Action Plan III – a priority for EU external action) within the European Union. Institutions of higher education, supported by mechanisms such as HRS4R and GEP, are expected to take the lead in developing best practices, in order to create equitable environments for learning, teaching and research. However, as social scientists pioneering critical inclusion studies have argued (Adamson et al., 2016; Dobusch, 2014, and 2017; Ferdman, 2017; Noon, 2018), the concept of inclusion presents inherent complexities, including challenges related to tokenism, practical implementation, and the imperative for cultural relevance and contextualization (Adamson et al. 2021).

In this special issue, we invite scholarly contributions that critically examine theory, policy development, and practical implementation of social inclusion initiatives in higher education settings. We particularly welcome submissions that bridge the gap between research and practice, exploring the intersectionality of gender with other power structures, including race, class, ethnicity, age, able-bodiedness, educational background, occupational status, and non-normative sexualities. Prospective authors, whether researchers, policy makers, or practitioners, are encouraged, when possible, to provide recommendations and actionable steps toward culturally relevant practices of social inclusion.

The envisioned articles will delve into various topics, including but not limited to:

• Theoretical and conceptual analyses of diversity and inclusion practices, problems and interventions relevant for academic settings
• Surveys of diversity and inclusion practices and interventions in academic settings
• Development and/or evaluation of diversity and inclusion measures relevant for academic settings
• Challenges and limitations of separate dimensions of inclusion
• Complexities of inclusion – Intersectionality in practice
• Contextualization – the development of culturally relevant inclusion practices

The deadline for abstract submissions is June 15^th, 2024, with full papers due by September 15^th, 2024. The issue is scheduled for publication in December 2024.

Authors are invited to submit extended abstracts (500-600 words) to the editor’s office: ana.tamas@ubbcluj.ro. Final contributions should adhere to the submission guidelines available on our website.
JRHE, the Journal of Research in Higher Education, is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal published by the QUALITAS Centre at Babeș-Bolyai University. Covering a wide range of topics from active learning to institutional resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, JRHE aims to provide insightful contributions to the field of higher education research.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.

References:

1. European Commission. (2020). Gender equality strategy 2020-2025 [Brochure]. European Commission.
2. European Commission. (2020). EU Anti-Racism Action Plan 2020-2025. European Commission.
3. European Commission. (2020). EU Roma strategic framework for equality, inclusion and participation 2020-2030 [Brochure]. European Commission.
4. European Commission. (2020). LGBTIQ equality strategy 2020-2025 [Brochure]. European Commission.
5. European Commission. (2021). Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 [Brochure]. European Commission.
6. European Commission. (2020). Gender Action Plan III – a priority in EU external action [Brochure]. European Commission.
7. Adamson, M., Kelan, E. K., Lewis, P., Sliwa, M. and Rumens, N. (2016) ‘The Quality of Equality: Thinking Differently about Gender Inclusion in Organizations’, Human Resource Management International Digest 24(7): 8–11.
8. Dobusch, L. (2014) ‘How Exclusive Are Inclusive Organisations?’, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 33(3): 220–234.
9. Dobusch, L. (2017) ‘Gender, Dis-/ability and Diversity Management: Unequal Dynamics of Inclusion?’, Gender, Work & Organization 24(5): 487–505.
10. Ferdman, B. M. (2017) ‘Paradoxes of Inclusion: Understanding and Managing the tensions of Diversity and Multiculturalism’, The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science 53(2): 235–63.
11. Noon, M. (2018) Pointless diversity training: Unconscious bias, new racism and agency. Work, employment and society 32(1): 198–209.
12. Adamson, M., Kelan, E. K., Lewis, P., Sliwa, M. and Rumens, N. (2021) ‘Introduction: Critically interrogating inclusion in organisations’, Organization 2021 28(2): 211–227.