Event Details

Instilling good practice in equalities, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) within organisations is vitally important: diverse institutions have been shown to be more productive, individuals are more empowered, and culture is richer.  Yet the higher education sector experiences challenges in moving towards a more inclusive research culture including within the research funding environment.  Many studies report ethnic minority researchers not holding senior roles on grant applications; women receiving smaller funding awards than their male counterparts and the visibility of disabled academics incredibly low.  Funders in the UK and beyond have responded to this in a number of ways to redress the imbalance and contribute to a more inclusive environment.  Research managers and administrators are in an excellent position to influence ED&I outcomes either operationally in the support of research funding applications or via strategic interventions in the wider institutional research environment, due to their positioning in the grant application cycle. However, knowledge is fast moving and evolving at pace, understanding and prioritising messages is key for research managers and administrators future work.

Our workshop brings together funders, equalities projects and networks to give attendees a variety of perspectives in the research funding environment to increase awareness.  Attendees will hear about the latest innovations and outcomes from funders; new ways to approach pre award and hear more about the experiences of academics in minority groups and their impact.  We will also discuss ways in which attendees can use this knowledge to influence practice at their HEI.  Attendees will be given all talk materials including suggestions from speakers on further reading to extend their knowledge beyond the workshop.

NOTE: Discussion of equalities, diversity and inclusion can be challenging or issues raised could be triggering for some attendees.  Areas covered will be gender equality, race equality, disability, socioeconomic status, caring responsibilities.  We will operate a safe space policy, please see at the end what this means for attendees.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this workshop, attendees will be able to…
• Understand drivers for embedding ED&I good practice in the research funding environment;
• Be able to provide support & guidance institutionally at strategic and operational level in respect of ED&I good practice;
• Understand different stakeholder drivers and needs in the research funding environment in respect of ED&I.

Who should come?

Research Administrators and Managers responsible for supporting research bid development as well as individuals with strategic research management responsibilities looking to introduce good ED&I practice at their institution.  Professionals working in ED&I offices looking to understand the impact of ED&I in the research funding environment are most welcome and will gain understanding of ED&I in a research funding context.

Safe Space Policy

Approach

Under the auspices of the ARMA training & development programme, it is our responsibility to create spaces, both offline and online, that are welcoming and respectful to everyone. Adhering to these agreements is a collective responsibility and everyone is individually responsible for checking their own behaviour. This includes chairs, speakers and attendees to this workshop which we will collectively refer to as ‘participants’ throughout.

This policy aims to enable participants to enjoy, participate in and contribute to this workshop. It exists to ensure that individuals do not feel harassed or uncomfortable participating in Equalities, Diversity & Inclusion in Research Funding Landscape workshop which can be a challenging one. The workshop explores concepts relating to equality, diversity and inclusion of individuals and underrepresented groups that may include: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation or any other aspect of diversity not included as a protected characteristic by the Equality Act 2010.

Addressing and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in research provides the opportunity to make research better and more relevant to all members of society. This approach to seek diversity is not to use differences to further marginalise groups without power or those who experience systemic exclusion.

Expectations

We are dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for all participants involved in its activities and meetings, regardless of protected characteristics protected by the Equality Act or aspects of diversity not currently covered by the Act (e.g. socio-economic status).  We do not accept harassment or intimidation of participants in any form whether verbal, physical, or written (including on Social Media or by email).

Harassment includes, but is not limited to:

1. Offensive or unwanted conduct on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation which has the purpose or effect of violating dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile or degrading environment.
2. Use of sexualised or other inappropriate images or unwelcome sexualised content, inappropriate physical contact, unwelcome sexual attention or stalking.
3. Sustained interruption of speakers or those asking questions.
4. Unwanted photography or filming.

Intimidation includes, but is not limited to:

1. Making threats
2. Bullying
3. Personal attacks

Workshop participants who do not adhere to these rules will be asked to stop by the Chair and expected to comply immediately.   Participants may be removed from the workshop by the Chair if this behaviour continues.

If you are being harassed/intimidated, notice that someone else is being harassed/intimidated, or have any other concerns, please contact the Chair immediately. They will be happy to help you contact security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment or intimidation to feel safe at any meeting or activity (including online). They will be able to step in to remove you or others from a chain of communication, if this is the preferred action, and can also facilitate a discussion or mediation. If you wish, you may also nominate someone else to support facilitating any mediation or as an observer to this process.

Triggering Issues

If at any point the materials covered trigger uncomfortable or unsafe feelings you are welcome to withdraw from the session for your own comfort.  If you require any support as a result of the issues being raised, please contact the Chair or ARMA Programme Manager for signposting to sources of ongoing support that can be provided.

Participants will be reminded about the Safe Space Policy during housekeeping.

This is modelled on EDIS Safer Spaces Policy 2021: https://edisgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/EDIS-Safer-Space-Policy-2021.pdf