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Equity and inclusivity in research funding

Findings, recommendations, and actions from the Equity and Inclusivity in Research Funding project.

Audience in a lecture at the Oxford University Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging

Findings, recommendations, and actions from the Equity and Inclusivity in Research Funding project

Progress on the Oxford Action Plan for Equity and Inclusivity in Research Funding

This report highlights the progress made to date to pursue equitable research funding practices at Oxford. 

Read the report

At the University of Oxford, we recognise that equitable access to research funding is critical to ensuring that researchers have the opportunity to develop their ideas, contribute to research excellence and progress their careers. Initiated by Research Services, the Equity and Inclusivity in Research Funding project was set out to identify the barriers to securing research funding experienced by researchers in marginalised groups and to propose solutions.    

This work led to the publication of the Equity and Inclusivity in Research Funding: Barriers and Delivering Change report in 2023. The report examined external and internal funding processes, as well as institutional practices, and set out recommendations to address identified inequalities.  

Following the publication of the report, the Oxford Action Plan for Equity and Inclusivity in Research Funding was developed through extensive consultation with colleagues across the University. The report also catalysed engagement across the research funding sector, bringing together universities, funders and other organisations in the research ecosystem. More than 30+ Universities and 11 funders were initially engaged, leading to the launch of the ‘Equity and Inclusivity in Research Funding “Forum”’ in June 2024. The Forum produced three working groups to advance sector-wide engagement.

The Oxford Action Plan has since been translated into a programme of five practical objectives and outputs overseen by a cross-institutional Equity and Inclusivity in Research Funding Working Group. Members have been drawn from across all divisions, and include people with specific expertise, such as IT, Equality and Diversity, and administration of funding schemes. Significant progress has been made across all five objectives through collaboration within Oxford and across the higher education and funding sectors.

Project outcomes and documents are available under the Project Downloads menu below.  

University of Oxford actions

Sector-wide work

Progress on equity and inclusivity in research funding requires ongoing, coordinated action from universities and funders. To support initial sector-wide action, the University of Oxford led an engagement process with 30+ Universities and 11 funders including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), British Heart Foundation (BHF), Cancer Research UK (CRUK), National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and Leverhulme Trust. In February 2024, 60+ delegates met and discussed the outputs of the engagement process, leading to the launch of the ‘Equity and Inclusivity in Research Funding Forum’.

A public joint statement was shared in June 2024. The statement included principles to guide the sector in delivering the work, a list of priority areas for the sector to deliver together, and Terms of Reference for the Equity and Inclusivity in Research Funding Forum. The public statement was signed initially by 29 delegates representing 24 universities and 4 funders.  

Through the Equity and Inclusivity in Research Forum, universities and funders have collaborated in working groups to develop practical resources and guidance addressing three priority areas: positive action, demand management and support mapping. Key outputs include:

We continue to recruit new members to the Forum and look forward to furthering engagement with sector partners in the coming year. 

Acknowledgements

The Equity and Inclusivity in Research Funding: Barriers and Delivering Change report was originally funded by the University of Oxford Diversity Fund and the Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund (ISSF) 204826/Z/16/Z. 

Downloads

Access project outputs

Read the Equity and Inclusivity in Research Funding report

We have made every effort to ensure that these documents are accessible, however, if you require an alternative format, please contact us at [email protected]. 

Cite the reports

Gladstone, J., Schipper, L., Hara-Msulira, T., Casci, T. (2023). Equity and Inclusivity in Research Funding: Barriers and Delivering Change. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5287/bodleian:KZjBY77pO

Casci, T., Hara-Msulira, T., Iacoban, A., McAlpine, H., Wyatt, BC (2024). Equity & inclusion in research funding forum: a summary of findings and outputs from the stakeholder consultation. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5287/ora-6qzgb8yoy

Hara-Msulira, T., Casci, T., Making collective action happen when it comes to equitable research funding. Wonkhe, 2 July 2024

Further Information

For further information about this project at Oxford or our work across the sector, please email Stephanie Perrin at [email protected] or email the Researcher Hub at [email protected].