New report on access to research-intensive postgraduate education highlights LIDo’s good practices

In August 2024, Martingale Foundation and Public First organised a roundtable on access to research-intensive institutions for postgraduate study or research This roundtable included participants from the Office for Students, UK Council for Graduate Education, as well as policy researchers, staff, and academics involved in access and research culture. 

The extensive discussion culminated in a report (“Access to and Success in Research-Intensive Postgraduate Courses”) that describes the multifaceted challenges faced by students with undergraduate degrees from non-research-intensive university as they transition to masters education and doctoral training in research-intensive universities. This report emphasized several themes related to access and research culture while also proposing potential interventions.

This report highlighted LIDo’s good practices in this area. LIDo’s summer placements targeted at undergraduates from non-research-intensive universities is one mechanism for acquiring skills, experiencing the research culture, and gaining information, advice, and guidance on PhD application, training, and careers. Also highlighted was the collegial collaboration in LIDo that includes diverse universities such as Russell Group and Post-1992 institutions.

LIDo subscribes to many principles raised in this report. We hope to reduce barriers to doctoral training by collaborating with a suite of widening participation organisations to nurture the science talent pipeline from year 12 (or equivalent) to PhD, through detailed guidance for applicants, and by publishing our shortlisting criteria and interview process for transparency.

See: The article in Research Professional covering this report. LinkedIn Post from Martingale Foundation.