ABSTRACT
After noticing significant achievement gaps between certain demographic groups in a large UK-based, research-intensive physics department, in 2020 institutional funding was secured to conduct research through the Strengthening Learning Communities project. The broad aims are to investigate the extent of attainment gaps between demographic groups, plus those students with protected characteristics; research the causes of any such gaps; and implement targeted strategies in pedagogical and pastoral practices within the institution to improve the university experience for all students and ensure parity for all. This chapter details five student-led or student partnership–based projects that raise awareness, offer interventions, and work toward increasing students’ academic sense of belonging and addressing inequalities in outcomes. This collaborative partnership represents a significant institutional commitment to tackling awarding gaps across student groups, supporting research and practice to improve belonging across a diverse student body, and investing in a growing community of physics education research, a nascent field in the UK.
