This book presents case studies of equity promotion initiatives at higher education institutions across the globe. The case studies showcase both successful approaches and failed interventions, providing relevant lessons to inform equity promotion policies and programs.

This chapter provides the context and rationale behind this research. Despite progress, many groups continue to face barriers to quality higher education, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Equity promotion requires comprehensive policies sustained over time, based on data to identify gaps and assess progress.

This study documents institutional practices worldwide to explore which interventions are most effective in expanding higher education access and success for underserved groups. It is based on virtual meetings with experts from diverse regions and background papers analyzing mini case studies in each region using a common framework.

East Asia has seen rapid expansion in higher education participation, but gaps persist between urban and rural areas and among different ethnic and income groups. Institutions have explored various approaches to promote equity.

• Integration of Low-Income Students at Fudan University, China - Fudan University established an outreach project to promote social integration and peer support for low-income students at the elite institution.
• Student Aid at the Chinese University of Mining and Technology, China - The university developed innovative student aid instruments including loan forgiveness to assist rural students in financial need.
• Balanced Regional Selection at Seoul National University, South Korea - SNU's initiative aimed to diversify the student body by balancing admissions across geographic regions and high schools.
• Equity-Focused Endowment Fund at the Technology University of Malaysia - TUM's access-driven fund provides scholarships and financial assistance for underprivileged students to pursue higher education.
• First-in-the-Family Fund at the University of Hong Kong - This fund supports first-generation college students at HKU in pursuing experiential learning activities outside the classroom.

Higher education institutions in this region have implemented various initiatives to promote equity, such as supporting students with disabilities, addressing differences in academic preparedness, and facilitating success for marginalized groups.

• Supporting Roma Students in Hungary: The Case of Romaversitas - This Roma-founded program provides academic services and community support to establish a Roma intellectual middle class and increase graduation rates.
• Diagnostic Testing and Differentiated First-Year Curriculum at Satbayev University, Kazakhstan - Satbayev University introduced diagnostic testing and tailored first-year courses to address differences in academic preparation and promote student success.
• Office for Students with Disabilities at Babes-Bolyai University, Romania - Babes-Bolyai established a dedicated office to facilitate inclusion and provide support services for students with disabilities.
• Mentor Program at Budapest Business School, Hungary - This student-led, faculty-facilitated program matches incoming first-year students with senior student mentors to aid their academic and social transition.

Higher education institutions in this region have implemented various initiatives to promote equity, such as affirmative action policies, indigenous inclusion programs, and community engagement models.

• Affirmative Action at Unicamp, Brazil - Unicamp adopted bonus points and quotas based on school system origin and race/ethnicity to increase participation of disadvantaged groups like rural, low-income, black and indigenous students.
• PACE Access Program at University of Santiago, Chile - The PACE program provides an alternative pathway for vulnerable high school students to gain admission to Chile’s most elite universities.
• Indigenous Inclusion at Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Mexico - Chapingo redesigned its admissions process to increase indigenous student enrollment and support, making it Mexico’s university with the highest indigenous participation.
• Universidades Populares at National University of Córdoba, Argentina - Through its Popular Universities initiative, Córdoba partners with local communities to provide adult education and facilitate university access.

Institutions in North America have implemented programs to increase representation and success for marginalized groups like Indigenous, Black, and low-income students.

• Aboriginal Access Studies at University of British Columbia, Canada - UBC Okanagan's program prepares Indigenous students for degree programs through a customized curriculum and holistic supports.
• Serving Native Students with Holistic Student Supports, USA - A consortium of Western US colleges collaborated to provide academic, financial, and cultural aid to boost access and completion rates for Native American students.
• Coaching North Carolina Community College Students, USA - North Carolina colleges utilized technology-based coaching to provide personalized guidance addressing academic and non-academic challenges faced by first-generation students.
• Culture of Caring at Amarillo Community College, USA - Amarillo College shifted its culture to address basic student needs like food, housing, and healthcare as a prerequisite for academic success among disadvantaged groups.

Higher education institutions in Oceania have implemented various initiatives to promote equity, such as supporting indigenous students, addressing socioeconomic disadvantages, and improving access and success for underrepresented groups.

• Indigenous Student Services at Swinburne University of Technology, Australia - provides specialized support services and culturally enriched spaces to create a welcoming environment for indigenous students.
• Queensland Widening Tertiary Participation Consortium, Australia - This consortium of universities coordinates outreach programs to improve access for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Embedded Equity Program at University of Western Australia - UWA embedded equity initiatives into the core business of the university to systematically address barriers faced by underrepresented students.
• Indigenizing an elite university in New Zealand: Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland - This program aims to create an inclusive environment and transform institutional culture to better serve Māori students and staff.

Higher education institutions in South Asia have implemented various initiatives to promote equity and inclusion, such as providing academic and social support for disadvantaged students, enhancing access through targeted admissions policies, and promoting gender equality.

• Equity Policies of IIT Bombay, Maharashtra, India - IIT Bombay provides mentoring, counseling, academic rehabilitation, and English language support to aid disadvantaged students' transition and success.
• Equity Policies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India - JNU uses "deprivation points" in admissions to enhance representation of disadvantaged regions, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Equity Policies Bharathiar University, Tamil Nadu, India - Bharathiar has established scholarships for women, a sexual harassment committee, and security measures to promote gender equality in higher education.
• Equity Initiatives at Tribhuvan University, Nepal - Tribhuvan provides scholarships, fee waivers, and hostel access aimed at low-income students from marginalized groups.

Higher education institutions across Sub-Saharan Africa have implemented various initiatives to promote equity, such as supporting students with disabilities, improving access for disadvantaged groups, and facilitating student success.

• Disability Inclusion: The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Gondar, Ethiopia - The university partners with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program to provide scholarships, support services, and institutional capacity building for students with disabilities.
• Improving Access to Postgraduate Education at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS – Rwanda) - The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences provides scholarships, mentoring, and research opportunities in STEM fields for talented students across Africa.
• Promoting Access through the Creative Arts: University of the Western Cape and Youth from the Rural Community of Barrydale, South Africa - The University of the Western Cape collaborates with local partners to engage rural youth in the arts and support their transition to higher education.
• Siyaphumelela Project to Promote Equitable Student Success at the University of the Free State, South Africa - The university employs data analytics, targeted interventions, and student engagement initiatives to improve outcomes for disadvantaged students.
• Access for Refugees at Jesuit Worldwide Learning, Kenya - JWL offers online tertiary education to refugees and marginalized communities through a network of education partners worldwide.

Higher education institutions in this region have implemented various initiatives to promote equity, such as supporting refugees, facilitating labor market transitions, and decolonizing curricula.

• Integrating Refugees into Higher Education and the Labor Market, Germany - Stendal University provided academic pathways and support services to integrate refugees into higher education and the labor market.
• Boosting Finnish Engineering Innovation Competence, and Addressing the Needs of Unemployed Adults and Immigrants - A consortium of universities offered reskilling and upskilling courses in technology fields to improve innovation capacity and address unemployment.
• Cooperative Education for all Undergraduate Students at the University of Limerick, Ireland - The university provides work-integrated learning opportunities through required internships to facilitate employability for all students.
• Decolonizing the  Curriculum in Scotland - A consortium of Scottish universities is reviewing curricula across disciplines to challenge colonial legacies. Universities have undertaken initiatives to diversify staff, support students of color, and decolonize curricula to address racial inequity.

The final chapter synthesizes the cross-cutting lessons learned from the 29 institutional case studies presented in the book. The case studies cover 21 countries across 7 global regions and explore a diverse range of equity promotion initiatives targeting various underrepresented groups. Three key success factors emerge:

• Holistic support combining financial and non-monetary interventions tailored to each student's situation.
• Sustained funding to ensure long-term sustainability and scale-up potential. National authorities should provide public funding to match equity commitments. Institutions can also leverage corporate philanthropy.
• Team-based implementation anchored in a shared vision and ethic of care. Working from common values and maintaining stable teams over time is crucial.

The study also revealed two areas needing more attention:

• Support for labor market entry. Graduates from underrepresented groups often face obstacles entering the workforce that other graduates do not encounter. Equity initiatives should encompass outreach, retention and transition to employment.
• Fostering a sense of belonging. First-generation students at elite universities can feel culturally isolated. Creating an inclusive institutional culture is vital for retention.