Smaller and specialist higher education institutions are essential to the diversity and vibrancy of the academic landscape, often serving as incubators for niche disciplines, innovative practices, and inclusive research. However, these institutions face marked challenges around resource constraints, demonstrating research impact at scale for assessment, and sustaining excellence in highly specialised, but commonly ‘at threat’ disciplinary areas.

This presentation will explore GuildHE’s approach to supporting its member institutions, showcasing how these challenges can be offset by galvanising collaborative, collegiate and inclusive networks. It will include examples of how professions-oriented, practice-focussed, specialist institutions come together to address gaps in research provision and deliver on assessments. A key reflection will be on the vital need to preserve and celebrate diversity, and RMAs role within this.

This will be GuildHE's first session at ARMA. Please note the listed authors are the convenors/chairs; others will be invited from the GuildHE network.

Session outcomes:

A clearer understanding of how resource (and other) limitations can be offset by intra/inter institutional collaboration and reciprocity

Insights into how EDI principles can be preserved and embedded even in smaller and specialist areas.

Opportunity to consider how this learning can be translated into attendees’ own institutions, irrespective of size/disciplinary diversity.

Demand management can be seen as a burdensome administrative task, necessitated by high demands on the funding system. Institutional conversations about demand management can consequently be process-driven/focused, and establishing a competitive advantage can drive decision-making.

Recently, work in the sector by HEIs and funders has focussed on how selection processes might be evaluated and reframed, so that they become a tool for fostering more inclusive and innovative practices, healthier research environments and provide key developmental support to enable researchers.

We will present and seek feedback on the national work that is being undertaken on inclusive demand management as part of the Equity and Inclusivity in Research Funding initiative led by the University of Oxford, engaging 30+ HEIs and 11 funders. We will focus on key parameters and principles for fair and inclusive selection and best practice in communications and support, which form the scaffolding for any selective process. We will also highlight the role of research management professionals in shaping inclusive funding cultures by firmly embedding EDI in and around processes.

Attendees will have the opportunity to reflect on and share best practice from within their own organisations or networks, which will shape and inform future directions for this work.