Education to play a vital role in building belonging in divided communities

We are living in a period of heightened polarisation, and the education sector has a vital role to play in promoting a greater sense of belonging, human mutuality, curiosity and empathetic approach to disagreement in our local communities.

The University of Salford, Department for Education (DfE) and National Union of Students (NUS) are partnering to develop a national community cohesion framework for students at colleges, universities and in student unions.

The framework will bring together a set of agreed principles that support students’ conduct and engagement on issues that underpin – or, if left unaddressed, undermine – cohesion within education settings and the wider communities they serve. Co-designed with students from diverse backgrounds and experiences, their voice and actions will be at the centre of the framework, its implementation and monitoring and evaluation.

This initiative responds directly to the government’s Protecting What Matters policy paper,  and has been accelerated in response to the rise in antisemitism and other forms of hatred. It will be developed in 5 areas:

• Greater Manchester
• North West and North London
• Bristol and Gloucestershire
• Sunderland and the North East
• Derby and East Midlands

It will then be rolled out for wider testing and implementation. If you’re a student in one of these areas and interested in getting involved, you can complete the Expression of Interest: Community Cohesion Framework form.

Student Unions, further and higher education providers will be able to use the framework to review and strengthen existing policies and promote positive student relationships and civic participation. An accompanying toolkit will help organisations to:

• develop local frameworks, charters or initiatives where they don’t exist
• offer practical examples of how to build cohesion with students
• establish an approach to monitoring and evaluating what works well

This work is supported by an expert advisory group, spanning education, civil society and policy. The empirical research will be led by the University of Salford, comprising student focus groups, stakeholder interviews and desk-based research. Students can also share their view on local community by joining the National Conversation.

This work represents an important opportunity to empower student leaders to drive positive change and build stronger education settings where empathy, respect and belonging can thrive. A first draft of the framework and toolkit is anticipated by the end of the year.

Advisory group

The group is made of members with further and higher education sector expertise, as well as faith and student representatives.

The full membership of the group is as follows:

• Nic Beech (chair) and Fran Darlington-Pollock, University of Salford (Steering Group)
• Kaynat Ahmad and Avery Greatorex, National Union of Students (Steering Group)
• Zoe Forbes, Vicki Stewart and Jenny Heath, Department for Education (Steering Group)
• Jamie Agombar, Students Organising for Sustainability
• Akeela Ahmed MBE, British Muslim Trust
• Arif Ahmed, Office for Students
• Ben Elger, Office of the Independent Adjudicator
• Emeka Forbes, Together Alliance
• Jeff Greenidge, Association of Colleges
• Angela Halston, Independent Higher Education
• Alistair Jarvis CBE, Advance HE
• Mervyn Kaye, Ruben Persey, Union of Jewish Students
• Chine McDonald, Theos
• Vanessa Ogden CBE, Department for Education
• Clare Peddie, Quality Council
• Vivienne Stern MBE, Universities UK
• Rosie Tressler OBE, Student Minds
• Kate Wicklow, Guild HE