Final year PhD student at Birmingham City University, Abigail Shaw, reflects on her role as a research associate on the ‘That’s Me! Eliminating barriers to postgraduate research’ project.
“Since 2023, my involvement in the That’s Me project has involved taking on diverse responsibilities. Initially, I joined the ‘Routes In’ pathway group, focusing on the distinct application processes for domiciled and international students and the prerequisites for enrolling in postgraduate research.
Our primary objective is to identify and address the barriers encountered by the global majority students and aiming to foster a more inclusive enrolment process.
Through an intersectional lens, we seek to grasp the inequities prevalent in higher education, particularly the intersection of sexism, racism, and class bias, which give rise to complex power dynamics and disadvantages.
We intend to leverage the collected data to contribute to research, policy, and practice within the area of postgraduate studies, with a specific focus on Birmingham City University and University of Wolverhampton. To drive the project forward, I have actively engaged in team meetings, reverse mentoring, conferences, Away Days, and interactions with employers.
Cultivating meaningful professional relationships and fostering mutual understanding with students, staff, and external stakeholders has been important. They can provide valuable resources, guidance, and support to positively enhance the student journey including providing practical support to aid career pathways. Notably, the That’s Me project plays a pivotal role in fostering a sense of community, belonging, and purpose for the global majority students.
Why am I interested in working on the project?
My interest in contributing to the project was due to commitment to removing barriers to PGR study. This resonates with my experience in higher education as a neurodivergent individual, where I have faced and overcome significant circumstantial, systemic and structural challenges.
Despite personal and systemic challenges, I have been able to establish a support system during my education: a community that has provided me with coping strategies and spaces where I feel understood and supported.
Impact of the Research
I am optimistic that employing intersectionality in our research efforts will facilitate the provision of necessary support for both current and prospective global majority students to overcome any challenges they may encounter.
It is essential to address the need for enhancing pathways and eliminating barriers to postgraduate study by devising and implementing an inclusive postgraduate research (PGR) allocation and induction process.
Introducing a pre-research degree program that familiarizes students with the prerequisites for successful postgraduate study can better prepare them for the PGR journey.
Additionally, acknowledging the existing attainment gap and striving to make pedagogical processes more inclusive and diverse for students from diverse backgrounds are essential considerations.
Midlands4Cities Event Session
At a Midlands4Cities funded ‘Dialogue Day’ for the That’s Me! project, I led a Design Thinking Workshop, crafting research proposals alongside a fellow postgraduate research associate, Huafeng Lu.
The session started with an ice breaker to enable participants to introduce themselves and outline their respective research areas. We introduced the "That’s Me!" project, discussing its various outputs, common barriers, implications, and potential improvements.
The participants were then divided into three groups and guided through the process of composing a research proposal. We used Padlet, to help participants engage in idea generation and collaborative brainstorming to outline the structure of a proposal.
Following the completion of their structures, each group presented their work, and we provided constructive feedback. In future we would like to explore topics related to mental health, well-being, and imposter syndrome during our discussions. We made sure to guide all participants to the support services available should they require assistance in these areas.
The session was well-received, with active participation and expressions of gratitude for the shared insights and experiences. It provided a conducive environment for learning and knowledge sharing, imparting a comprehensive understanding of postgraduate research processes and practical applications.”