Increasing Diversity and Equity of Access (IDEA) will address the challenge of having a more diverse and inclusive research culture. This will be done by effecting a culture change program piloted in the University of East Anglia’s (UEA) Faculty of Medicine and Health (FMH), to then drive institutional efforts to address EDI challenges at a faster pace.
Background
Increasing Diversity and Equity of Access (IDEA) will address the challenge of having a more diverse and inclusive research culture. This will be done by effecting a culture change program piloted in the University of East Anglia’s (UEA) Faculty of Medicine and Health (FMH), to then drive institutional efforts to address EDI challenges at a faster pace.
IDEA will ensure that all members of the FMH research community develop the skills and take the actions required to support a diverse workforce and encourage diversity of research practices. This will be reinforced by systemic changes (e.g., to FMH ethics procedures, and HR policies) requiring better EDI awareness and standards of practice by researchers.
The value of IDEA for improving the diversity of research culture at UEA is fourfold:
1. Fostering a culture of inclusivity/sense of belonging.
2. Upskilling research leaders to identify/address inequalities.
3. Improving the inclusivity of our research.
4. Ensuring this transformation is University-wide, effective and enduring.
Project Aims
To improve the diversity, inclusivity, and equity of the research conducted in FMH.
Project Activity
Objectives of IDEA
Objective 1: Increase education, training and skills in EDI in research culture.
• Cultural Competency training for Research staff
• Bystander Intervention Training adapted for Research Culture context
• Mentoring (for underrepresented groups)
Objective 2: Enhance visibility of diverse and improved practice
• Research Culture Ambassadors
• Research Culture Support Service
• Seed funding for EDI and Research Culture initiatives
• EDI and Research Conference
Objective 3: Develop inclusive data collection practice in research design
• How to increase EDI considerations in research
• Pilot study: collect and declare data on protected characteristics within medical research
• Increasing access to research
Anticipated or actual outputs
EDI in research training programs (bystander interventions, allyship etc), including train the trainer. Mentoring program. Case studies of access support. Checklist for collection of minimum data set for use by all research studies. Conference.
Who is involved?
PI: Joanna Semlyen, UEA
Corresponding researcher: Katherine Deane, UEA
Contact
