Closing the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Enquirer and Recruitment Gap in FASS

• Project Team: Karen HaganLystra Hagley-DickinsonPepta Joefield-BeebyAnna Clarke
• Subject Discipline: Psychology and CounsellingSocial Sciences and Global StudiesArts and Humanities
• Theme: Equality, diversity and inclusion
• Project Aim: Promotes equality diversity and inclusion including reduction of degree awarding gap
• Date: October 2021 to October 2022

The BAME Insight Factsheet produced by Marketing demonstrated that there is a BAME enquirer gap in the OU. Marketing’s regular brand tracking survey shows that in 2019 there was a 10% enquirer gap: 84% of White potential students polled are likely to enquire compared to 74% of BAME potential students. FASS has aspirations to increase Black and Asian student numbers and reduce the awarding gaps between Black and White and Asian and White students. One pathway to change is to increase our understanding of the enquirer gap and subsequent impacts on registration to study in FASS.

The aim of the project is to report in detail on the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) enquirer and recruitment gap in FASS and make recommendations about how it may be addressed.

Objectives - 

To build a clearer picture of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic recruitment in FASS at qualification and module level as well as Faculty level in order to clearly identify qualifications with an under-presentation of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Students.

To identify patterns of intersectionality in the gaps in Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) enquirer and recruitment in FASS

To make recommendations about how FASS might address the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) enquirer and recruitment gaps in the Faculty

Research Questions

1. What are the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) enquirer and recruitment gaps in FASS at the levels of Faculty, Schools, Qualifications and Modules?
2. What impact does intersectionality have on enquirer and recruitment gaps in FASS?
3. Why is there a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) enquirer and recruitment gap in FASS?