UKRI diversity data shows BAME applicants get 8% less in awards
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has today published harmonised diversity data for funding applicants and recipients of research council grants over the past 5 years which has shown the largest increase has been in the proportion of ethnic minority co-investigators in the past five years, from 12% to 22%. The data also shows differences in awards rates and values between the diversity groups with women awardees receiving 15% less than men and BAME applications 8% less.
Women awardees receive 15% less than men and BAME applications 8% less
The data also shows differences in awards rates and values between the diversity groups. The median award value for female awardees is approximately 15% less than the median award values of males (£336,000 vs £395,000). Similarly, the median award value for ethnic minority awardees is approximately 8% less than that of white awardees (£353,000 vs. £383,000).
It is the first time that data have been harmonised across UKRI’s seven research councils, and the publication includes new, previously unpublished data on award values. The data are being made available in a range of formats to facilitate access and analysis by the community. Data is not included for Innovate UK and Research England, due to differences in both the nature of funding and data collection.
Diversity Data
The dataset contains data on four protected characteristics (sex, age, ethnicity, disability) for
- Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Investigator grant applicants and awardees
- Fellowship applicants and awardees
- PhD studentship starts
For the first time, UKRI is also publishing data on award values for the different groups. In addition, it has set out to enhance its data capabilities in the future by collecting data on additional characteristics as well as through advanced forms of data analysis to better understand trends, while continuously using insights from data analysis to drive our equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) policy development.
Professor Jennifer Rubin, UKRI Executive Champion for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, said: “Today’s publication is an important contribution to our work to improve equality, diversity and inclusion across the UK’s research and innovation sector, providing us with a greater understanding of the issues we need to address.
“It will inform our continuing work in this crucial area and we will build on this in the coming months through further data publication and by outlining our next steps.”
Dan Hodges, UKRI Deputy Director for Analysis, said: “Making our diversity data openly available is crucial in our role as the UK’s major public funder of research and innovation.
“We are committed to expanding our data collection and analysis capabilities to better understand the complexities of the data to inform our ongoing policy development. Further work we are undertaking includes detailed analysis on ethnicity and the intersectionality of different characteristics.”
Click to download a copy of the UKRI Diversity Report.
About UKRI
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) works in partnership with universities, research organisations, businesses, charities, and government to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish. It aims to maximise the contribution of each of our component parts, working individually and collectively. Operating across the whole of the UK with a combined budget of more than £7 billion, UK Research and Innovation brings together the seven research councils, Innovate UK and Research England.
For further information visit https://www.ukri.org/
