Creating a Culture of Inclusion: Increasing Diversity and Equity of Access - IDEA

There are long-standing challenges in Higher Education Institutions arising from persistent under-representation and under-recognition of the significance of multiple protected characteristics (e.g., ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability). We know from Wellcome Trust’s research that underrepresented groups are disproportionately affected by poor research culture. Increasing Diversity and Equity of Access (IDEA) is an ambitious pilot project that places EDI at the heart of UEA's research culture. IDEA will create new roles, resources, policies, practices, and responsibilities for current and future researchers from all backgrounds. IDEA’s value is (i) immediate and enduring; (ii) multifaceted. IDEA has three objectives, across visibility, knowledge, and practice, that have capacity to generate policy impact and institutional research culture change. Through innovative adaptions of training and mentoring for research culture context, funding opportunities to generate further original possibilities, and pilot studies to increase inclusion in research design, IDEA will provide a launchpad for fundamental change for research staff, activity, and wider culture. IDEA’s goals for improving the diversity of research culture at UEA are: 1. A research culture of inclusivity. 2. Upskilled research leaders to identify/address inequalities. 3. Improved research design inclusivity. 4. A University-wide, effective and enduring transformation.