Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Our Vision: We want HetSys to be a place where every student feels welcome, respected, supported and empowered to succeed.

Building a Diverse, Inclusive and Supportive Research Community

Welcome to HetSys

At HetSys CDT, we want everyone to feel welcome, valued and supported from the moment they join our community. We believe that the best research happens when people from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives come together in an inclusive and respectful environment.

Whether you're just starting your PhD or are already part of the HetSys community, we're committed to helping you thrive, academically, professionally and personally. Alongside world-class research training, we aim to create a supportive culture where every student feels they belong and has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

As an EPSRC-funded Centre for Doctoral Training, equality, diversity and inclusion are embedded throughout everything we do鈥攆rom recruitment and student support to training, outreach, professional development and community activities. Our approach is informed by:

Our Commitment

Creating a safe, welcoming and respectful environment for everyone.
Supporting students from all backgrounds to succeed.
Promoting fairness and equal opportunities in recruitment, training and career development.
Ensuring our teaching, events and activities are accessible and inclusive.
Supporting flexible study arrangements, wellbeing and a healthy work-life balance.
Challenging discrimination, bullying, harassment and inappropriate behaviour.
Celebrating diversity and creating a strong sense of community and belonging.
Encouraging a wide range of perspectives within research and innovation.
Inspiring the next generation of researchers through outreach and widening participation activities.

Find out more below about how we put these commitments into practice across the HetSys community, below.

Useful Links

Reporting Concerns and Seeking Support:

Wellbeing and Health Support:

Disability and Accessibility:

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Professional Development and Networks

EDI & Careers Resources

HetSys Community

For any support needed please drop into the HetSys admin office to speak with us or email us at:

Community and Belonging

We strive to create a strong HetSys community where students feel connected and supported through activities and events, such as:

Student Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC)
Coffee Club
Mindfulness Walks
Weekly WCPM seminars and networking lunches
Annual Research Afternoon Event
Industry Seminars
Industry 果冻传媒 Groups
HetSys Annual Conference
Careers Workshops
Social and networking events
An annual BBQ
An annual Quiz
Weekly Student drop in sessions
Outreach and public engagement activities
Widening Participation Events
External Conferences and Workshops

Students are supported by a dedicated CDT team and a diverse network of academics across multiple departments at 果冻传媒. With an open-door approach and regular opportunities to engage with peers, staff, alumni and industry partners, we aim to create a welcoming community where all students feel connected, supported and able to thrive

Fair and Inclusive Recruitment

At HetSys, we are committed to ensuring that our recruitment processes are fair, transparent and accessible to all applicants. We actively work to reduce barriers to participation and encourage applications from talented individuals from a wide range of backgrounds.

Our recruitment processes are regularly reviewed to promote inclusivity and good practice. This includes monitoring diversity data, providing appropriate training for recruitment panel members, and seeking to ensure diverse representation within interview panels wherever possible. We also work closely with the 果冻传媒 and our partner organisations to widen participation in doctoral research and to attract applicants from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in STEM disciplines.

We believe that excellence in research is strengthened by diversity of thought, experience and perspective, and we are committed to creating opportunities for all talented researchers to succeed.

Professional Networks and Development

We recognise the important role that professional societies and networks play in supporting career development, mentoring, networking and inclusion within the wider STEM community. HetSys CDT is a member of the organisations listed below and regularly shares relevant events, opportunities and resources with students through our communications and EDI activities.

Mentoring, networking and professional development opportunities for women and underrepresented groups in high-performance computing.

A professional network supporting women in engineering and technology through events, mentoring, resources and career development opportunities.

An international organisation supporting the advancement and leadership of women in STEM through networking, advocacy, mentoring and professional support.

BBSTEM is a non-profit organisation campaigning for balance and representation of black individuals in STEM.

HetSys EDI Themes

We are committed to fostering a research environment where everyone feels welcome, respected and able to succeed. Our EDI activities span a broad range of themes, recognising that individuals may face different opportunities and challenges throughout their academic and professional journeys.

While these themes provide a useful framework, we recognise that every individual's experiences are unique and that many aspects of identity intersect. We therefore aim to take an inclusive approach that supports the diverse needs of our students, staff, supervisors and partners.

Our activities and initiatives span:

Gender Equality
Race and Ethnicity
LGBTQIA+ Inclusion
Disability and Neurodiversity
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Caring Responsibilities
Religion and Belief
Socioeconomic Inclusion
Inclusive Research Cultures

HetSys Outreach

We are committed to encouraging participation in STEM from people who may not traditionally see themselves represented in research and engineering.

Through school engagement, public engagement events and outreach activities, we aim to:

Raise awareness of computational science and engineering careers
Inspire future researchers from diverse backgrounds
Promote inclusive role models
Showcase the societal impact of research
Support widening participation in doctoral education

Many of these activities are led and supported by HetSys students and staff, providing valuable opportunities to develop communication, leadership and public engagement skills.

Find out more about our outreach activities here.

Diverse Role Models, Mentors and Career Pathways

We believe that seeing people from a wide range of backgrounds succeed in research, industry and leadership roles helps create a stronger sense of belonging and inspires future generations of scientists and engineers.

Throughout the HetSys programme, students have opportunities to engage with a diverse range of role models through our 果冻传媒 Centre for Predictive Modelling (WCPM) seminar series, industry engagement activities, careers events and alumni network. We actively seek to showcase speakers with a broad range of experiences, perspectives and career pathways, helping students to understand the many routes available within academia, industry and beyond.

Our alumni play an important role in supporting current students through mentoring, networking and career development activities, providing valuable insights into life after a PhD. Students also benefit from regular interaction with researchers and professionals from our industrial partners, gaining exposure to a wide range of career pathways and perspectives.