Accomplished Study Programme in Research Excellence (ASPIRE) for Black students: Fixing the Broken Pipeline

This project will develop the capabilities of Black students to navigate structural barriers to doctoral study and enhance pathways of opportunity, through inclusive targeting.

Resources required:

• Funding/partners to collaborate on bids and programme.

Available evidence of impact:

• Innovative practices emerging from programmes.
• Reduction in inequality within the PGR lifecycle for BAME PGR’s.
• Increase in embedding EDI across the sector within PGR programmes for BAME students.

Links to available resources:

• Projects to improve Black, Asian and minority ethnic students’ access to postgraduate research

Implementation and potential challenges:

• Look at successful bids where programmes fit with social sciences to consider future bids internal or external opportunities.
• Access to funding streams – where to locate internal and externally to institutions.
• Potential collaborations – institutions or local organisations that would offer value and shared communities of practice.
• Culture change.

How to Use:

• Look to make continuous improvements.
• Develop framework for researchers.
• Create training and networking opportunities.
• Build research training programme through anti-racist lens.
• Build in further opportunities such as summer school, reverse mentoring, placements, teaching qualifications and career advice.
• Create coaching/mentoring workshops for PG researchers from racialised groups.