Embedding Equity in Awards and Grants at the British Association for International Studies
The British Association for International Studies (BISA) commissioned specialist support to strengthen equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) across their membership and recognition processes. As a leading voice in International Studies in the UK and internationally, BISA sought to build on their existing equality and diversity policy by embedding practical steps to ensure that a diverse and proportionate range of members apply for and succeed in their grants and prizes.
Focusing on fairness and representation
BISA recognised that to maintain excellence in research, teaching, and knowledge exchange, they must ensure equitable access to funding and recognition opportunities. By focusing on inclusion at the heart of their awards and grants processes, BISA aimed to remove barriers, broaden participation, and ensure recognition is representative of the diversity across the field of International Studies.
Their ambition extended beyond their own association, with a view to producing recommendations that could also guide other professional bodies committed to promoting EDI in academic awards and recognition.
What we did
A specialist EDI consultant was commissioned to provide tailored recommendations in the following areas:
- Cost-effective approaches to embed demographic data collection across BISA’s processes
- Improvements to the grants and prizes application processes
- Diversification recommendations for awards criteria and structures
- Developing a protocol for annual reporting on EDI data trends
The consultancy combined data analysis, policy review, and benchmarking against best practice in the sector to ensure recommendations were practical, sustainable, and evidence-based.
The outcome
BISA received a comprehensive set of recommendations to improve fairness, transparency, and inclusivity in their awards and grants processes. The insights offered clear, actionable steps to strengthen demographic monitoring, widen participation, and embed accountability through annual reporting.
The consultancy outcomes have not only supported BISA to advance their own EDI goals but also positioned them to share learning and best practice with other professional associations seeking to address equity in recognition and funding.