Working Towards an Inclusive Research Culture Through EDI Education, Engagement and Empowerment of the Research Community

Authors

  • Rachel Cowen University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7346-5621
  • Sarah Williams University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK
  • Maria Marsh University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK
  • Di Zhang University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK
  • Neal Chamberlain University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3600-7645
  • Diane Harris University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK
  • Michael Dixon University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8346-6671

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v11i3.1577

Keywords:

equality, diversity, inclusion, advocacy, inclusive leadership, active bystander, research culture, intersectionality

Abstract

This paper provides critical reflection on work and progress to embed EDI in our research and innovation workforce, practice and culture at the University of Manchester. Our university aim is to take an intersectional and holistic approach to educate, engage, empower and support our staff and student community at all levels to prioritise EDI.  To embed EDI in research and promote collective responsibility to help shape a fairer, inclusive research culture the University launched the ‘Inclusive Research Transformation Programme’. This programme included developing inclusive research mindsets and building inclusive leadership capacity (from UG to senior research leader); a University EDI award scheme which catalysed innovative local and national researcher led EDI initiatives; and targeted funding schemes to help address gender, ethnicity, and disability inequities within our research career pipeline. Three schemes were developed, an UG EDI summer placement scheme, an early career research staff EDI fellowship underpinned by inclusive advocacy and an established academic returners scheme.

Funding Acknowledgement
This work was funded by University of Manchester and Wellcome Institutional Strategic Support Fund (204796/Z/16/Z ISSF - Wellcome ISSF 3 – EDI).

 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
A rainbow over a city with a diverse population in silhouette in front.

Downloads

Published

2024-08-08

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 3 (2024): Special Issue: Research Culture

Section

Critical Reflections

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Rachel Cowen, Sarah Williams, Maria Marsh, Di Zhang, Neal Chamberlain, Diane Harris, Michael Dixon

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY), which permits use and redistribution of the work provided that the original author and source are credited, a link to the license is included, and an indication of changes which were made. Third-party users may not apply legal terms or technological measures to the published article which legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

If accepted for publication authors’ work will be made open access and distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license unless previously agreed with Exchanges’ Editor-in-Chief prior to submission.

Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work. (see: The Effect of Open Access)