Building Belonging and Raising Student Voices: Insights from the ABC Toolkit Fellowship

This study shares findings from a fellowship project, exploring student support through the creation of an ABC Toolkit, a strategic and scalable approach to foster belonging, inclusion, and student partnership. Our research shows the importance of trust, autonomy, and peer relationships in shaping an inclusive and accessible student experience. By embedding co-creation, the ABC Toolkit empowers students to take ownership of their journey, strengthening their sense of community. Our data collection and analysis demonstrate that structured yet flexible support, delivered at the right time and approach, significantly enhances engagement and confidence. The toolkit provides a model for broader institutional implementation, supporting equity across disciplines and diverse cohorts. Collaborating with student partners, student voices were critical in the design of support mechanisms, ensuring the interventions are meaningful, timely, and adaptable to evolving needs. By addressing barriers to participation and fostering a proactive rather than reactive support model, our work contributes to a sector-wide conversation on inclusive educational practices. Beyond this conference, our findings hold wider implications for policy and practice. The ABC Toolkit offers a transferable model that aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals on quality education and reduced inequalities, providing a framework for embedding belonging and co-creation across higher education institutions.