[Geo4All] House of Lords Convening – Reimagining Sustainability in Higher Education: Leading Through Equity

[Suchith Anand]

Dear colleagues.

I would like to congratulate Dr Jummy Okoya, Samson Olagbami and the University of East London for the Reimagining Sustainability in Higher Education: Thriving Through Equity and Student Success report published in partnership with Advance HE.

What started as a conversation at the House of Lords has now become a national sector report bringing together the voices of Vice-Chancellors, policymakers and senior leaders from across UK higher education.

This work emerged from a powerful House of Lords convening hosted by Baroness Sandy Verma and developed through a national dialogue involving:
contributions from more than 10 Vice-Chancellors
engagement from senior leaders across more than 30 institutions
four themed webinar conversations exploring the future sustainability of higher education through the lens of equity, leadership and student success

This report aims to reposition equity and student success as the foundational infrastructure of institutional sustainability in higher education. Originating from the House of Lords convening, one-on-one interviews with various university Vice-Chancellors and developed through a national webinar series, it seeks to move the sector beyond moral rhetoric toward strategic, evidence-led action.

The report has four central aims. First, to redefine sustainability as more than financial survival, framing student continuation, attainment, belonging and progression as core indicators of institutional resilience. Second, to surface practical leadership, governance and accountability mechanisms that make equity measurable and unavoidable. Third, to connect innovation, digital transformation and partnership working directly to inclusion, ensuring futureproofing does not reproduce inequality. Finally, to provide a clear call to action for governing bodies, executive leaders and academic communities to embed equity at system level rather than as an add-on initiative.

In doing so, the report offers a strategic blueprint for institutions seeking to thrive through equity, strengthen public trust, and deliver student success as a matter of institutional design rather than chance.

Read the full report at https://advance-he.ac.uk/knowledge-hub/reimagining-sustainability-he-university-east-london

Okoya, O J & Olagbami, S (2026) Reimagining Sustainability in Higher Education:Thriving through Equity and Student Success. University of East London.

Please share this report with your University colleagues and networks.

Best wishes

Suchith

> 
> 
>> On 23 Nov 2025, at 21:53, Suchith Anand  wrote:
>> 
>> Dear colleagues,
>> 
>> I thank the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) of the UK Government for responding to my Open Letter on REF 2029 - Research Culture
>> 
>> https://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/geoforall/2025-September/006617.html
>> 
>> https://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/geoforall/2025-September/006622.html
>> 
>> It is important to talk about research culture and the Research Excellence Framework 2029. I thank the UK university community and REF 2029 community for this focus on research culture for REF 2029. Let us all work to build a healthy and thriving research system that delivers the maximum benefits for society. 
>> 
>> Together, let's drive meaningful change towards a more inclusive and equitable representation in the UK academic landscape. Let us support the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion, continuing to build communities where all voices are heard, and every individual thrives.
>> 
>> “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi
>> 
>> Let’s build a world beyond racism and discrimination, where we all exercise our human rights. Be a human rights champion!
>> 
>> Best wishes
>> 
>> Suchith
>> 
>> 
>>> On 19 Nov 2025, at 11:42, Suchith Anand  wrote:
>>> 
>>> Dear colleagues,
>>> 
>>> An excellent convening on Reimagining Sustainability in Higher Education: Leading Through Equity at the UK House of Lords on 17th November 2025.  I represented and contributed on behalf of the University of Exeter for this important meeting. 
>>> 
>>> Hosted by Baroness Verma, the event united a distinguished cohort of senior leaders, including:
>>> 
>>> - Vice-Chancellors and PVCs
>>> - Representatives from over 20 universities, encompassing Russell Group and post-92 institutions
>>> - Regulatory and sector bodies such as the Office for Students and HEPI
>>> 
>>> This endeavour will create a unified, sector-wide vision of a sustainable University, one that champions equity, thrives on inclusion, and endures through purposeful collaboration. The dialogues were profound, open, and strategically focused, underscoring a fundamental truth: Equity is not an add-on to sustainability but the cornerstone of a thriving higher education sector.
>>> 
>>> Delegates delved into how equity can propel:
>>> 
>>> - Financial and operational resilience
>>> - Enhanced outcomes and student experiences
>>> - Robust governance practices
>>> - Inclusive digital and workforce advancements
>>> 
>>> Next Steps:
>>> 
>>> Our forthcoming actions include:
>>> 
>>> - Crafting a comprehensive sector-wide report, incorporating insights from the event and amplifying the voices of Vice-Chancellors leading equity initiatives nationally
>>> - Facilitating virtual in-depth roundtables for each thematic stream
>>> - Showcasing institutions pioneering equity-driven transformations
>>> - Ensuring alignment of our roadmap with evolving government policies
>>> 
>>> This endeavour will create a unified, sector-wide vision of a sustainable University, one that champions equity, thrives on inclusion, and endures through purposeful collaboration. Thank you to Baroness Verma for hosting us, and to Dr Jummy Okoya for leading this important conversation.
>>> 
>>> Looking forward to working together for championing equity and inclusion. Together, we are reshaping the sector’s future. 
>>> 
>>> Best wishes
>>> 
>>> Suchith
>>> 
>>> Professor Suchith Anand
>>> Professor of Practice in Science Policy | Senior Adviser to Governments and International Organisations | Scientist | Global Citizen | Science Diplomacy |  SDG Volunteer and Advocate
>>> https://spspa.exeter.ac.uk/people/profile/index.php?username=sa1131
>>> https://ethicaldatainitiative.org <https://ethicaldatainitiative.org/>
> 

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