Generation Delta is an Office for Students/UK Research and Innovation funded project running from 2022 - 2026, led by six Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) female professors:
- Professor Donna Chambers (Northumbria University/ University of Sunderland)
- Professor Uma Kambhampati (University of Reading)
- Professor Shaofeng Liu (University of Plymouth)
- Professor Amaka Offiah (University of Sheffield)
- Professor Farzana Shain (Goldsmiths, University of London)
- Professor Iyiola Solanke (University of Oxford/University of Leeds)
We are all members of the Black Female Professors Forum.
Generation Delta is designed to lay the foundations for a long-term increase in the number of BAME female professors in higher education institutions in England. The project will address both institutional and individual barriers experienced by BAME women at different stages of the PGR life cycle, through the delivery of a programme of training and strategic advice that recognises the impact of intersecting inequalities on access and progression in academic careers. It will build upon and create tangible infrastructural networks for BAME female PGR students.
Generation Delta will deliver an active intervention to improve the practical experiences and outcomes for BAME female students through three key phases of the PGR lifecycle:
- Access to Academy (A2A);
- Retention and Progression (RaP);
- Training for Careers (T4C).
The five objectives include:
- Embedding equitable practices in the institutional PGR lifecycle;
- Pilot contextual offers/contextualised admissions;
- Design and implement workshops to support and engage current and future BAME PGR students;
- Create a network of support for BAME PGR students;
- Embed new learning and good practice beyond the life of the project.
This is an important project with a long lifespan that will leave a lasting legacy.
For enquiries, contact generationdelta@leeds.ac.uk
This initiative, Generation Delta, is a significant project aimed at addressing the underrepresentation of Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) female professors in higher education institutions in England. Led by esteemed academics from various universities, this effort spans from 2022 to 2026, funded by the Office for Students/UK Research and Innovation.
Now, to break down the concepts:
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Generation Delta: An Office for Students/UK Research and Innovation funded project from 2022 to 2026 focused on increasing the number of BAME female professors in higher education institutions in England.
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BAME: Stands for Black, Asian, and minority ethnic individuals. It encompasses a diverse range of ethnicities beyond the White demographic.
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Professors Leading the Initiative:
- Professor Donna Chambers (Northumbria University/University of Sunderland)
- Professor Uma Kambhampati (University of Reading)
- Professor Shaofeng Liu (University of Plymouth)
- Professor Amaka Offiah (University of Sheffield)
- Professor Farzana Shain (Goldsmiths, University of London)
- Professor Iyiola Solanke (University of Oxford/University of Leeds) These professors are part of the Black Female Professors Forum and are spearheading Generation Delta.
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Objectives of Generation Delta:
- Embedding equitable practices in the institutional postgraduate research (PGR) lifecycle.
- Piloting contextual offers or contextualized admissions to promote inclusivity.
- Designing and implementing workshops to support current and future BAME PGR students.
- Establishing a supportive network for BAME PGR students.
- Ensuring that the project's learnings and best practices endure beyond its duration.
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Phases of the PGR Lifecycle Targeted:
- Access to Academy (A2A): Focused on providing access to higher education and academia.
- Retention and Progression (RaP): Aimed at retaining students and supporting their progress.
- Training for Careers (T4C): Concentrated on preparing students for their careers post-graduation.
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Approach and Impact:
- Addressing institutional and individual barriers faced by BAME women at different stages of the PGR lifecycle.
- Creating tangible networks and interventions to improve the experiences and outcomes for BAME female students.
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Long-Term Impact:
- The project aims to leave a lasting legacy by embedding new learning and practices beyond the project's lifespan.
This endeavor not only aims to address immediate disparities but also strives to create lasting structural changes that will benefit future generations of BAME female academics. For inquiries, the contact email is generationdelta@leeds.ac.uk.
