Enhancing Inclusivity in the Higher Education Discussion Group: : Strategies for Employability, Internationalisation and Assessment in a UK University

Abstract

The concept of compassion and its role in building co-operative societies is being researched across disciplines - anthropology, clinical psychology, group psychotherapy, neuroscience. Education appears to stand aloof from using findings from such disciplines for pedagogical design. This chapter explores effects on social and learning experiences of students in university seminars where attention to noticing disadvantaging of others and acting to reduce it (enacting compassion) is supported and required. The locus was a UK university. Student's observable, on the hoof endeavours to challenge and develop others not only themselves, was credit bearing towards their degrees. Development here relates to social inclusion/equitable levels of participation in the task focussed group, and also to academic quality of contributions to the group work, that is, critically evaluative discussions of research.