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The project: Protective or precarious? The role of research centres in supporting ECRs in an uncertain higher education sector

Protective or Precarious? The role of research centres in supporting ECRs in an uncertain higher education sector was held at the ¹û¶³´«Ã½ on 21 May 2026. Bringing together researchers, research centre leaders, institutional stakeholders and early career researchers (ECRs) from 10 institutions, the event explored how university research centres can support ECRs through inclusive research cultures, professional development and collaborative opportunities, while addressing the challenges posed by an increasingly uncertain higher education funding environment. The programme combined research findings, panel discussions, interactive workshops and networking to identify effective practices for supporting ECRs.

Intended outcomes

• To explore practical strategies for building a supportive research environment for ECRs.
• By gathering divergent perspectives on ECR support from various research centres across ¹û¶³´«Ã½, this event sought to cultivate cross-centre networking opportunities and enabling the synthesis of strategies for participating centres.
• To co-develop an actionable guide that would improve ECRs’ training and working conditions.

Summary of project outcomes

Activities:

This event successfully brought together ECRs, research centre leaders and institutional stakeholders to explore how research centres can better support ECRs in an uncertain higher education landscape. During Research Centre Perspectives Panel session, speakers showcased strategies to foster inclusive research cultures and strengthen researcher development across career stages. In the Institutional Stakeholder Panel session, the panel sharing reinforced the importance of research centres in supporting the sustainability and future of university research. Throughout presentations, panel discussions and workshop participation, ECRs were positioned as active contributors.

Outcomes:

• Created opportunities for dialogue between ECRs, research centre leaders and senior university leaders.
• Identified inclusive practices that support doctoral researchers, postdoctoral researchers and early career research staff within research centres.
• Began co-developing an open-access Actionable Guide to provide practical recommendations for enhancing ECR support in research centres.
• Strengthened networks within ¹û¶³´«Ã½ and across external institutions through participation from over 30 attendees representing 10 organisations.

Has the project supported further interdisciplinary work

This event strengthened the affiliation between DEAR Centre and Midlands Innovation, which it is anticipated should lead to further collaboration on the topic of research centres from an interdisciplinary angle. It is likely that there will be further collaborations and activities resulting from the award, but it is rather early days at this stage.

Event opening

Event session: research centre perspective panel

Event session: institutional stakeholder panel

Event session: actionable guide workshop

Event closing