Demystifying academia: Co-designing a development programme for Global Majority Early Career Researchers

Underrepresentation creates unique, systemic barriers that standard university frameworks often overlook. Raj Mann and Dr Karisha George are leading a new project to demystify academia and co-design a development programme for Global Majority Early Career Researchers.

The Advance HE (2024) Equality in higher education statistical reports states “that although ethnic representation among professors is increasing across the years, this varies widely across the different minority ethnic groups, with Black professors still being those most underrepresented. This is true when looking at representation across both UK and non-UK professors”.  

The White Rose University Consortium developed the Equity in Leadership programme to promote diversity in higher education leadership. This programme offers targeted leadership development for staff from global majority backgrounds, including those in academia and professional services who identify as Black, Asian, or other Minority Ethnicities.  

However, we recognise that achieving diversity in leadership necessitates the cultivation of a robust and diverse talent pipeline. YCEDE, in collaboration with the Office for Students (OfS), Research England, and partner institutions (York, Bradford, Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam, and Leeds), has made significant strides in increasing access to doctoral studies for UK-based graduates from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.  

Building on this foundation, we aim to further demystify academic pathways and encourage global majority ECRs to consider pursuing academic careers. To support this, we have commissioned a project to identify and learn from best practices across our partner institutions and the wider sector. These insights will be used by the appointed consultants to co-design and deliver a pilot programme tailored to supporting global majority ECRs in navigating and progressing within academia.  

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Project co-leads:
Dr Karisha George – karisha.k.george@york.ac.uk
Raj Mann – info@drkmconsulting.com

Project updates

A firsthand account of navigating career progression as a Black academic

By identifying best practices across partner institutions and the wider sector, the project will develop and pilot a tailored development programme to help demystify academia. This initiative hopes to equip global majority ECRs with the tools and clarity needed to confidently navigate and progress their careers within higher education. This case study has been taken from an interview held by Dr Karisha George as part of the Demystifying Academia project with consent from the participant. Hear a grounded reflection offering perspective, realism and practical insight.