Access to Success Pathways: Inclusive Research Excellence (ASPIRE)

The ‘Access to Success Pathways: Inclusive Research Excellence (ASPIRE)’ programme will deliver a new and innovative pilot at-scale to enhance how we understand, enact, and embed inclusive research practice and excellence at the University of Birmingham (UoB) with respect to race. This is focused on the pursuit of rigorous and innovative research by a more diverse workforce and race-inclusive culture that enables everyone involved in the research process to achieve their potential. The key goals of the programme include: - Improving understanding of the key inclusion barriers faced by racially minoritised researchers and professional services staff - Making inclusive research excellence a more visible priority for all research and related staff at the University, and building the engagement and sense of personal accountability required to engender change - Increasing opportunity, inclusion, and the visibility of racially minoritised staff, whilst encouraging learning and innovation in relation to the adoption of more inclusive behaviours and practices among staff at all levels. - Building research and grants leadership capacity to improve representation at senior levels. These will be achieved through an ambitious programme of activities through four work streams, sustained engagement with internal and external stakeholders, and strong governance to ensure successful delivery.