SOAS Research Online

Abstract

In recent years, funders and research bodies have placed increasing attention on equality, diversity and inclusion priorities. The UK’s Research and Innovation (UKRI) introduced in April 2019 a Gender Equality Statement requirement for its GCRF and Newton Fund schemes, which are preoccupied with low- and middle-income countries’ development. In December 2019, UKRI also published two evidence reviews on equality to advance evidence-based best practices in this area. This general emphasis on EDI obscures a less critical engagement with what is meant by diversity, how this should be understood and who should define it. In this presentation, I discuss recent trends in the funding landscape around equality priorities, with specific reference to the GCRF Gender Equality Statement requirement, its gaps and the risks it entails – as well as opportunities – and I reflect on the concept of diversity and how we might nuance current definitions in view of comments and thoughts expressed in recent decolonisation events in higher education and open science publishing.