Conceptualising an Inclusive Mindset: A Scoping Review and Framework for Engineering Education

Engineers have a particular role in fostering an inclusive society since engineering solutions can either advance or hinder inclusion. Educating engineers about inclusivity involves not only teaching inclusive principles but also fostering an inclusive mindset. However, the concept of an 'inclusive mindset' lacks a universally agreed-upon definition and conceptual framework. To address this gap, we conducted a scoping review of existing literature that discussed an inclusive mindset as their main theme to explore and clarify the concept of an 'inclusive mindset'. Our review encompassed 47 papers from diverse global regions and research domains, including education and organisation research. Data extraction and coding were conducted systematically, focusing on research areas, types of inclusivity addressed, definitions, related attributes, and factors influencing an inclusive mindset. Through numeric and thematic analysis, we provided insights into the prevalent themes and concepts surrounding an inclusive mindset. We then developed an inclusive mindset model to conceptualise our scoping review findings. This model offers a conceptual framework to identify factors influencing inclusivity and guide interventions aimed at educating inclusive mindsets among engineering students.