Ideas Xchange Event
Supervisors from across the 听were invited to apply for grants of up to 拢2,000, to be used towards the development and delivery of activities that would听benefit and add value to the wider UA doctoral community of supervisors and doctoral researchers, through expansion of skill set and/or supervisory practice.听Cross-institutional applications and activities and those that directly involved doctoral researchers as part of the proposal development phase were encouraged.
Building on the success of the听That鈥檚 Me! Project, Jacqueline Taylor and Eli Ashong from Birmingham City University听will host听The Ideas Xchange听event at听听bringing together postgraduate researchers, supervisors, EDI experts and professional service staff from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to 鈥榅change鈥� ideas on inclusive and sustainable supervisory practices and doctoral networks.
The Ideas Xchange
The Ideas Xchange is not a traditional conference. It is a dynamic, one-day, in-person forum designed to foster meaningful dialogue, critical reflection, and collaborative problem-solving. Bringing together doctoral researchers, supervisors, EDI practitioners, policymakers, professional services staff, scholars, and external stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, the Ideas Xchange creates space for honest conversations about the doctoral experience.
At its core, the event explores the intersectional lived realities of the doctoral journey听鈥撎齬ecognising the complexities of identity, power, and institutional structures that shape it.听Attendants听are invited to share practices听and听to challenge assumptions, test听new ideas, and co-create practical, sustainable approaches to improving inclusivity and enhancing supervisory practices.听
Funded by the听听and inspired by the听听project,听a collaboration between Birmingham City University and the University of Wolverhampton, supported by the Office for Students and Research England,听the Ideas Xchange is a catalyst for reflection, experimentation, and meaningful change.听
Call for听contributons听- submit by听30th April 2026
Agenda听听
09:30听Arrival |听Coffee, registration + connecting across roles and disciplines.
10:00听Welcome & Framing the Space听
Opening remarks, shared principles + setting intentions for collaborative exchange.
10:30听Roundtables: Rethinking the Doctoral Journey
Small group, participant-led discussions on focussed ideas
XCHANGE 1 | 10:30-11:00
Md Al Jahan听-听How does cultural intelligence shape inclusive leadership in multinational organisations?
Arun Ulahannan听-听How can disabled PGRs be better supported and provided routes through the doctoral programme - experiences from our world first scheme
XCHANGE 2 | 11:00-11:30
Stephanie De Marco听-听Title TBC
Natalia Gheorghiu听-听Opening conversations: Early dialogue with supervisors in the doctoral journey
XCHANGE 3 | 11:30-12:00
Ayodeji Olusegun Ibitoye听-听Beyond access: who gets to know, question, and trust knowledge in the age of AI?
Eli Ashong and Oli Carter听-听Title TBC
Followed by a short roundtable exchange
12.15听Lunch听| network, exchange + relax
13:00听PGR Stories |听Short, thought-provoking contributions to challenge assumptions and spark discussion
Danielle Broadhurst -听OCD in the PhD: Imposter Syndrome on Steroids
Zoyi So -听If you know, you know 鈥� Time pressure, FOMO, and trying to live your life while keeping up with your PhD
Saddaf Syed听-听Cultural Kaleidoscope 鈥� She doesn鈥檛 belong here!
Sara Younas听-听When visa rules decide how long PhD mothers are allowed to recover
Jaspreet Singh -听Title TBC
Followed by an open mic-style space for participant stories + exchange
13:50听Break听| refresh + reflect
听14:00听Co-Creation Lab: From Ideas to Action
Collaborative exchange to develop practical, sustainable recommendations, tools, or interventions + working towards a听Shared Commitment to Inclusive Doctoral Education.
15:45听Round-up |听Final reflections and pathways for sustaining exchange and impact
16:00听Close
The day will also include opportunities for exchange through dialogue and informal networking, along with refreshments and lunch.