Programme Published

2nd UKCGE Conference on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in PG Research

Race and Ethnicity in PGR
  • Conference
  • Widening Participation & EDI
Date(s)
14 — 15 Nov 2024 
Location
Leonardo Hotel Waterfront, Brighton
Price
£100–525

Greater diversity in postgraduate research benefits everybody. It generates work that reflects current society more accurately and is fundamental to our understanding of universities as public institutions. Ensuring inclusivity in postgraduate education is at the heart of furthering our economic, scientific and social progress.

Following a highly successful meeting in Sheffield in 2023, the 2nd UKCGE Conference on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in PG Research, will have a particular focus on improving access to, and participation in, postgraduate research for Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups. 

At the end you will feel more connected to issues of diversity in the sector and understand how they impact on research. There will be opportunities to exchange information on what has been learned so far, enabling you to tackle bias in the postgraduate research environment with greater confidence. There will also be opportunities to network with your peers.

Although the primary focus will be race and ethnicity, we will also consider the interconnected nature of these social categorisations and how they are related to other examples of discrimination and disadvantage. We welcome contributions that address race from different angles – from the perspective of mental health, for example, or in tandem with gender discrimination. 

We welcome attendance and contributions from postgraduate researchers (please note in the booking section, there is a reduced ticket rate for PGR delegates).

Conference Themes

  1. Admissions and recruitment
  2. Building communities
  3. Effective practices in coaching and mentoring
  4. Equality after the doctorate; employability
  5. Learning from global approaches
  6. Research funding
  7. Supervisor relationships
  8. Tackling bias and privilege
  9. The uses of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion — including how it’s defined and measured

Inclusivity at UKCGE events

Everyone involved in the conference should be able to enjoy it and benefit from attending, whether they are an organiser, supporter, presenter or audience member. Those who are most affected by prejudice, micro-aggressions or abuse of power are often those who face other systemic barriers relating to their race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, gender or (mental) health.

Ahead of the conference, we are asking everyone involved to think about how to promote inclusivity, and to play their role in actioning change. We want a conference which is safer, more accessible, more inclusive, and convivial, not just for those who already experience these spaces as comfortable or welcoming, but for everyone. We all have a role to play in challenging and changing the environment around supporting access for all. Participation in the conference is conditional on behaving in accordance with UKCGE Equality, Diversity and Inclusion ethos in ways that are fair, collegiate, caring, equitable, inclusive, respectful, non-exploitative and anti-discriminatory.

Keynote Speakers

  • Professor Tina Ramkalawan

    Director of the Graduate School | Brunel University London & Trustee | UKCGE
    • Thu 14 Nov, 10.10
    • Keynote Presentation
  • Louise Banahene MBE

    Director of Educational Engagement and Student Success | University of Leeds
    • Fri 15 Nov, 12.05
    • Keynote Presentation
  • Agnes Aboagye

    Doctoral Candidate | University of Nottingham
    • Thu 14 Nov, 10.50
    • Keynote Panel Discussion: The Experiences of Doctoral Candidates
  • Nadia Talukder

    DPhil Student | University of Oxford
    • Thu 14 Nov, 10.50
    • Keynote Panel Discussion: The Experiences of Doctoral Candidates
  • Dr Ifedapo Francis Awolowo

    Sheffield Hallam University
    • Thu 14 Nov, 15.55
    • Keynote Panel Discussion: Managing funded projects that promote EDI
  • Dr Tiffany R Holloman

    University of Bradford
    • Thu 14 Nov, 15.55
    • Keynote Panel Discussion: Managing funded projects that promote EDI

Programme

Download as PDF
09:30

Registration with Tea & Coffee

Duration
30 mins 
10:00

Conference Briefing

Duration
5 mins 
10:05

Welcome & Introduction

Duration
5 mins 
10:10

Title TBC

Keynote Presentation

Professor Tina Ramkalawan

Director of the Graduate School | Brunel University London & Trustee | UKCGE 

Duration
40 mins 
10:50

The Experiences of Doctoral Candidates

Keynote Panel Discussion

Agnes Aboagye | University of Nottingham
Nadia Talukder | University of Oxford
Additional panellist TBC

Chaired by Professor Hala Mansour | Royal College of Art & UKCGE Board of Trustees

Duration
40 mins 
11:30

Refreshment Break

Duration
20 mins 
11:50

Option 1 — The Push and Pull of Community-Building: Bridging Brad-ATTAIN across the University of Bradford

Oral Presentation

Dr Tiffany R Holloman, Oluwatoyin Rufus & Ammarah Ikram | University of Bradford

Primary theme: Building communities

Duration
30 mins 
11:50

Option 2 — Reversing the limitations of Reverse Mentoring by introducing a co-construction approach?

Oral Presentation

Dr Stephanie DeMarco, Dr Karen Patel & Melisa Oleschuk | Birmingham City University

Primary theme: Tackling bias and privilege
Secondary theme: Effective practices in coaching and mentoring 

Duration
30 mins 
11:50

Option 3 — Confronting disparities: the complexity of intersectionality for underrepresented groups in Graduate Education.

Oral Presentation

Professor Fiona Hallett | Edge Hill University

Primary theme: The uses of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Secondary theme: Building communities 

Duration
30 mins 
12:20

Changeover

Duration
5 mins 
12:25

Plenary Networking Session

Duration
45 mins 
13:10

Lunch

Duration
50 mins 
14:00

Option 1 — Symposium: Admissions Process

Featuring the following presentations:

Duration
60 mins 
  1. A

    Anonymisation of graduate applications

    Dr Edward Dodson & Dr Nadia Pollini | University of Oxford

    Primary theme: Admissions and recruitment
    Secondary theme: Tackling bias and privilege

  2. B

    Widening access to PhDs for applicants from minority ethnic groups

    Dr Jane Westwell | University of Reading

    Primary theme: Admissions and recruitment
    Secondary theme: The uses of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

14:00

Option 2 — Widening access to postgraduate study: where to start? A practical workshop on research internships.

Workshop

Felicity Long & Terry Scott | University of Oxford
Nuala Murray & Ingrid Lee | University of Cambridge

Primary theme: Admissions and recruitment

Duration
60 mins 
15:00

Refreshment Break

Duration
20 mins 
15:20

Option 1 — Equity in the employment and development of PGR students as demonstrators

Oral Presentation

Dr Lynne Lawrance | University of the West of England, Bristol

Primary theme: Tackling bias and privilege
Secondary theme: Equality after the doctorate; employability 

Duration
30 mins 
15:20

Option 2 — Acknowledging diversity within supervisory relationships

Oral Presentation

Dr Claire Robertson | University of Westminster

Primary theme: Supervisor relationships
Secondary theme: The uses of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 

Duration
30 mins 
15:20

Option 3 — Perceived employability of international doctoral students in the UK

Oral Presentation

Fa Wang | University of Plymouth

Primary theme: Tackling bias and privilege 

Duration
30 mins 
15:50

Changeover

Duration
5 mins 
15:55

Managing funded projects that promote EDI

Keynote Panel Discussion

Dr Ifedapo Francis Awolowo | Sheffield Hallam University
Dr Tiffany R Holloman | University of Bradford
Additional panellist TBC


Duration
35 mins 
16:30

Close Day 1

19:15

Pre-dinner Drinks

Duration
30 mins 
19:45

Conference Dinner

Duration
120 mins 
09:20

Day 2 Registration with Tea & Coffee

Duration
15 mins 
09:35

Option 1 — Symposium: PGR Led Initiatives and Presentations

Including the following presentations

Duration
95 mins 
  1. A

    Empowering PGRs to lead EDI enhancement initiatives

    Prof Katherine Yates, Dr Hannah Helm, Dr David Gilbert, Keren Poliah, Adam King & Mus’haf MM. Khan | University of Salford

    Primary theme: Building communities
    Secondary theme: Tackling bias and privilege

  2. B

    The Brilliant Club: Mobilising a diverse cohort of PGRs to inspire the next generation

    Rosa Smith | The Brilliant Club

    Primary theme: Tackling bias and privilege
    Secondary theme: Equality after the doctorate; employability

  3. C

    Rethinking transcultural doctoral supervision

    Dr Bing Lu & Bamba Khan | Nottingham Trent University

    Primary theme: Supervisor relationships
    Secondary theme: The uses of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

09:35

Option 2a — Examining gendered places & spaces in UK PhD study using data science & quantitative geography

Oral Presentation

Dr Laura Sheppard, Prof Jon Reades & Prof Richard Freeman | University College London

Primary theme: Tackling bias and privilege
Secondary theme: The uses of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 

Duration
30 mins 
10:05

Option 2b — Changeover

Duration
5 mins 
10:10

Option 2c — Intervening for racial equity in postgraduate research in complex conditions: a sharing workshop

Workshop

Professor Paul Wakeling, Prof Kathryn Arnold & Dr Bukola Oyinloye | University of York
Dr Asha Akram | University of Sheffield
George Gisborne & Sherry Iqbal | University of Leeds

Primary theme: The uses of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Secondary theme: Tackling bias and privilege

Duration
60 mins 
11:10

Refreshment Break

Duration
20 mins 
11:30

Option 1 — STRIDE-ing in the DAISY data…are we really reaching the right candidates with our interventions?

Oral Presentation

Zi Parker | Queen Mary University of London

Primary theme: Tackling bias and privilege
Secondary theme: The uses of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Duration
30 mins 
11:30

Option 2 — Parental Leave as a PhD Student: Lived Experiences of Postgraduate Parents and Supporting Staff

Oral Presentation

Christine Braganza, Eszter Vigh, Flavia De Luca & Hemma Philamore | University of Bristol

Primary theme: The uses of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Secondary theme: Building communities 

Duration
30 mins 
11:30

Option 3 — Elevating Voices: Women of Colour in Postgraduate Research and Inclusive Supervision Practices

Oral Presentation

Neesha Sahota & Anne-Louise Crichlow | Birmingham City University

Primary theme: Supervisor relationships
Secondary theme: The uses of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Duration
30 mins 
12:00

Changeover

Duration
5 mins 
12:05

Title TBC

Keynote Presentation

Louise Banahene MBE
Director of Educational Engagement | University of Leeds 

Duration
40 mins 
12:45

Lunch

Duration
60 mins 
13:45

Option 1 — Space-making as a Method of Community Building for Racialised Women in UK HEIs

Workshop

Dami Folayan | University of Leeds
Prof Uma Kambhampati & Oyinkansola Olotu | University of Reading
Clémentine Bedos & Angela Loum | Goldsmiths, University of London

Primary theme: Building communities
Secondary theme: Tackling bias and privilege 

Duration
60 mins 
13:45

Option 2 — Bridging the Academic Divide: Empowering Black Scholars through the ASPIRE Program

Workshop

Dr Ifedapo Francis Awolowo | Sheffield Hallam 
University

Primary theme: The uses of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Secondary theme: Effective practices in coaching and mentoring 

Duration
60 mins 
14:45

Refreshment Break

Duration
20 mins 
15:05

Option 1 — Addressing Bias in Doctoral Admissions: The STARS Scoring Matrix Pilot

Oral Presentation

Cherry Benson & Sara Baker | University of Cambridge

Primary theme: Tackling bias and privilege
Secondary theme: The uses of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Duration
30 mins 
15:05

Option 2 — In2research: Widening access to doctoral research for under-represented groups across disciplines

Oral Presentation

Dr Snigdha Dutta & Dr Michael Sulu | University College London
Dr Rebecca Lindner | King’s College London

Primary theme: Building communities
Secondary theme: Effective practices in coaching and mentoring 

Duration
30 mins 
15:35

Changeover

Duration
5 mins 
15:40

Closing Conference Summary

Plenary Session

Duration
20 mins 
16:00

Close and Departure

Book Your Place

Check your institution to see if you’re eligible for a member rate