3rd UKCGE Conference on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in PG Research
We held our third EDI Conference on November 4th/5th 2025 at Cloth Hall Court, University of Leeds, reopening the debate about how to tackle the challenges around Race and Ethnicity in PGR.
The event opened with a welcome from Louise Banahene PFHEA MBE: Director of Educational Engagement and Student Success at the University of Leeds. This was followed by a Keynote Panel Session about the experiences of Doctoral Candidates, featuring contributions from Esther Ezegbe (King’s College London), Janith Jayatilake Kankanamalage (University of Leeds), Melea Sinclair (University of Nottingham) and Mohammed Irfan Yusuf (University of Leeds).
Delegates also enjoyed two excellent keynote addresses. The first was by Professor Emmanuel Adukwu PhD, FRSB, FHEA (Dean for Students at UWE Bristol) and focussed on the creation of the Minoritised Life Scientists Future Forum (MLSFF): a scheme designed to empower minoritised students, researchers, and professionals by providing an inclusive environment to share their work, connect with peers, and tackle shared challenges.
The second keynote, on day two of the conference, was given by Professor Lisa-Dionne Morris (LDM), whose presentation was entitled: “Beyond Academia, Toward Equity: Inclusive Career Pathways for Postgraduate Researchers”. In it, she reframed ‘careers beyond academia’ as a matter of equity, access and research culture. She also discussed mapping transferable research skills to roles across industry, policy, NGOs and entrepreneurship, and suggested strategies that recognise and address systemic barriers faced by racially minoritised and international PGRs.
In-between the two keynotes there was a wide variety of workshops and round-table discussions looking at issues ranging from inclusive PGR recruitment to the mentoring of Black British youth and transforming research cultures.
At the event’s close, members of the organising committee gave a summing-up. Professor Tina Ramkalawan (Vice-Chair of UKCGE and Director of the Graduate School at Brunel University London) said: “I just wanted to reflect on the fact that Professor Jason Arday often talks about disposable empathy – and I want to put a call-to-action out to everybody to say: please try not to leave here and dispose of your empathy but turn it into something more embedded and long-lasting that can fuel action within the academy.”
Dr Ifedapo Francis Awolowo (Senior Lecturer in Financial and Management Accounting at Sheffield Hallam University and ASPIRE Project Lead) thanked the audience for submitting papers and for their sacrifices in continuing to fight against racism in the academy. “I salute your courage” he said, “I think what I’ve learned over the last two days are strategies to be able to fight stronger against the inequalities which we continue to see in PGR.” He also highlighted international experiences as something that is often forgotten in the postgraduate sector and praised the keynote speakers for setting the energetic tone of the conference.
Louise Banahene (Director of Educational Engagement and Student Success at the University of Leeds) echoed the words of colleagues and added: “Each time we’ve run this conference, we’ve seen a step-change in what we’re doing. However, I think the contributions from our students — through that wonderful student panel and through their presentations – are a stark reminder of the work that we need to continue to do; that whatever progress we’re making, we need to keep going because there are students who aren’t seeing the positive impacts.”
Finally, Dr Margherita Sprio (Head of the Graduate School, University of Westminster) rounded off with her observations. “I do absolutely believe in the transformative power of the PhD experience,” she said, “It changed my life, and I advocate that change for the doctoral researchers I supervise. If I can chip away at the system to enhance it — and make it better for others — then my job is done.”