From reflection to action: The InterHEd Toolkit for Introducing Intersectionality in Higher Education Teaching

Abstract

In recent decades, access to higher education has expanded significantly across Europe as part of broader efforts to democratise knowledge and promote inclusion. Universities have become more diverse in terms of the backgrounds, experiences and aspirations of their students. However, this growing diversification has not resulted in equal experiences or outcomes. Despite appearing neutral and being framed within a discourse of academic excellence, higher education institutions continue to reproduce and legitimise forms of inequality that subtly yet powerfully shape students’ trajectories. In response to these persistent inequalities, intersectionality has emerged as a powerful framework for understanding how multiple axes of oppression, such as race, gender, ethnicity, class, sexuality, disability and migration status among others, intersect to shape experiences of inclusion and exclusion. While intersectionality is increasingly present in academic research, discourse and policy, its application to teaching and learning practices remains limited, inconsistent and often superficial (Mergner et al., 2025; Rehman et al., 2023; Nichols and Stahl, 2019). Against this backdrop, the InterHEd Toolkit has been developed to bridge theoretical discussions and practical approaches, and to support those interested in exploring intersectionality as a useful and transformative perspective in higher education.