Consortium led by York investing over £3.6m to improve opportunities for under-represented Postgraduate students

Posted on 23 November 2021

The University of York is leading a region-wide project to help improve opportunities for under-represented Postgraduate Students.

The population of doctoral students in the UK is less diverse than our general population.

The University is part of the Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Doctoral Education (YCEDE) which has been awarded funding from the Office for Students and Research England to tackle ethnic inequalities in access to postgraduate research.

Regional partners in the Consortium include Bradford, Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam and Leeds universities who will work to improve access and new opportunities which will include a new PhD scholarship scheme for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) applicants.

The population of doctoral students in the UK is less diverse than our general population. YCEDE say that as a result, the UK’s economy and society are deprived of research talent and valuable opportunities for creative innovation.

Talented

The five universities involved will reform admissions criteria and practices to better assess applicants’ potential to do ground-breaking research and generate new knowledge.

Through bespoke mentoring and training, as well as new student internships and PhD scholarships, YCEDE will look to inspire and train talented BAME scholars.

Project lead, Professor Kathryn Arnold, Dean of York Graduate Research School, said: “All five universities want to learn from and collaborate with our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students to transform the way we recruit, select and support people from all backgrounds who aspire to exciting careers in research and innovation.”

“Such fundamental change isn't going to be quick or easy but we have commitment from our executive boards to make this happen.”

Empower

Vice Chancellor of the University of York, Professor Charlie Jeffery said: “YCEDE will catalyse change in the recruitment of postgraduate researchers across Yorkshire and the UK which will nurture and empower our next generation of PhD graduates with the knowledge, confidence and leadership skills to help create a fairer global society.”

Professor Gregor Mclennan, Chair of the Academic Committee of the Stuart Hall Foundation said: “Our new partnership with YCEDE is a natural and welcome extension of our existing collaboration with these Yorkshire Universities to support black British postgraduate researchers. We very much look forward to working with YCEDE to help shape the trajectories of the successful candidates.”

The project is funded by the Office for Students and Research England.