Access to Success Pathways for Inclusive Research Excellence (ASPIRE)
An ambitious research, training and capacity building initiative to elevate our research culture
Access to Success Pathways for Inclusive Research Excellence (ASPIRE) is an ambitious research, training and capacity building initiative that will trial new approaches to improve research culture at the University of Birmingham.
Breaking new ground in research culture
The University has been awarded approximately £1 million to develop an innovative pilot to enhance how we understand, create, and embed inclusive research practice and excellence, with a particular focus on the career development and progression of racially minoritised researchers and related staff. ASPIRE is one of 20 pilot programmes funded by Wellcome as part of a portfolio of activity to support positive and inclusive organisational research cultures.
ASPIRE objectives
To achieve its aims, the two-year programme will focus on four workstreams that will:
- Improve understanding of racial inclusion barriers.
- Visibily prioritise inclusive research excellence at the University.
- Increase opportunity and inclusion for racially minoritised staff.
- Encourage learning and adoption of inclusive research behaviours and practices for all staff.
- Build research and grants leadership capacity to improve representation at senior levels.
What is research culture?
According to the Royal Society definition, “research culture encompasses the behaviours, values, expectations, attitudes and norms of our research communities. It influences researchers’ career paths and determines the way that research is conducted and communicated.”
Building on our experience
Consultation and engagement with the University’s research and research-related community has informed the design of the pilot programme. The programme will build on ongoing work of the Race Equality Charter, the NIHR Race Equity and Diversity in Careers Incubator and the recently established EDI Centre.
The award will facilitate collaboration on research culture across and beyond the University. This programme is particularly important in the context of the growing emphasis placed by funders such as the Wellcome Trust and UKRI on research culture and its increasing significance for the Research Excellence Framework.
Meet the team
ASPIRE is interdisciplinary and cross-institutional, bringing together colleagues from across the University, including the new EDI and Wellbeing Centre in HR.
- Institutional Lead: Professor Adam Tickell
- Principal Investigator: Professor Etlyn Kenny
- Co-Investigators: Professor Catherine Mangan, Professor Christopher Millward, Professor Yemisi Takwoingi, Dr. Zania Stamataki, Sheena Lucas
- Programme Manager: Kally Bhartti
- Training Consultant: Nosheen Qamer
- Communications and Adminstration Officer: Olivia Barfi
For more information and to be added to our mailing list for updates and events please contact: aspireinclusion@contacts.bham.ac.uk.