Creating a sense of belonging in academia: challenges, facilitators, and implications for university leaders, staff and graduate students

A sense of belonging in the academic workplace can provide a range of benefits for students, staff, and universities, including job satisfaction, engagement, and productivity, as well as good mental and physical health. However, building a sense of belonging in academia can be challenging, with certain groups, such as early career researchers, graduate students, and racially minoritized staff members potentially experiencing greater difficulty feeling a sense of belonging compared to other groups. This chapter discusses the challenges of belonging in academia and presents evidence-based examples of facilitators of belonging in the academic workplace related to belonging opportunities, competencies, perceptions and motivations. The chapter will discuss implications for graduate students and highlight the key role university leaders can play in fostering a sense of belonging for staff. A policy and framework for universities to promote a sense of belonging for staff in academia are also presented.