University of Leicester to spend £1m to make research more inclusive | News

The University of Leicester has strengthened its commitment to research inclusion after securing £1 million from the Wellcome Trust.

The money will fund two years of pilot projects on inclusion and culture in the institution’s research area, with the aim of removing the barriers faced by people from ethnic minorities who want to progress in their research careers.

Wellcome’s Institutional Fund for Research Culture (IFRC) provides institutions with funding of up to £1 million to undertake ambitious projects that promote research cultures and research environments that are equitable, diverse and supportive. It awarded Leicester £1,010,156 for the project, which is called I-REACCH: Inclusive Research Environment Achieved through Culture Change.

The university’s president and vice-chancellor, Professor Nishan Canagarajah, said: “We recognize that we must persevere in our commitment to achieve our ambition to be a destination of choice for students and staff from diverse backgrounds and to be known as the leading university for inclusion. where all students and colleagues feel they belong.

“We are committed to fully engaging with our community to identify and address the barriers people may face in realizing their potential and to foster a sustainable culture of positive learning and research for all. The Wellcome Trust initiative is timely and admirable.”

The University is committed to increasing the number of ethnic minorities in postdoctoral and staff positions. Barriers to progression are also assumed to apply to other protected factors and characteristics, including socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and carer status. The I-REACCH study will also explore these hypotheses in detail.

The study aligns with the University’s Mission, which states: Diverse in our makeup and united in our ambition, we change lives through education and research.

It also fits with the University’s Vision: We will deliver inspiring education and research, working in partnership with our communities, to become a truly inclusive university.