News

Helping Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Postgraduate Researchers

26/11/2021

Vitae, part of the Careers Research & Advisory Centre (CRAC) Ltd, is delighted to be working in a new project with the University of Essex, titled 'Transitions and Transformations: The Black Researcher’s Journey', that will support Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic students in postgraduate research.
Funding for the project has been announced by Research England – part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and the Office for Students as part of an £8m initiative to help reduce inequalities for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic students in Higher Education.

The plan with the University of Essex will involve developing a sustainable model of support for Black researchers consisting of a digital platform, training for PGRs and research staff, funding, mentoring, career and professional development opportunities.

Vitae’s role will be to provide expert input to development of the training and development programme, building on its deep understanding of the skills that researchers need to progress, and also to evaluation of the project.  Dr Robin Mellors-Bourne, Director of Research and Intelligence, CRAC/Vitae commented:

“We welcome this much needed investment and opportunity to help improve the progression of Black postgraduate researchers in particular, who are the group currently least likely to participate or progress in research. The model  should provide a framework of support which will address some of the longstanding barriers for Black researchers in HE and will help improve research culture.”

With the latest report from UKRI revealing that only 4% of recent PGRs were Black, Vitae along with the other project partners: Gradintelligence, Leading Routes, Diverse Minds, The Brilliant Club and HM Government’s Open Innovation Team, aim to help Essex devise and pilot this specially tailored framework, so that Black researchers can fully succeed and thrive in HE careers.

Read more about the 13 projects announced as part of this funding initiative, including one at Cambridge and Oxford also supported by CRAC