We invite you to the first annual Holding the Space Conference: Shining the light on Black academics.

Black academics are underrepresented within the higher education sector, most notably in senior leadership and in Professorial positions (HESA, 2024).

Although, rates of representation differs across ethnicities, Black scholars, in particular, are over-represented in universities where institutional priorities are less on activities fulfilling promotion criteria (e.g. research output, research funding award generation, and research impact), and more on the fulfilment of teaching allocations, student contact hours and administration (Baltaru, 2024). This imbalance and challenge impacts upon areas of recognition, progression and promotion.

In full acknowledgement of racial and intersectional inequity, this conference aims to provide a vibrant platform for Black academics, students, practitioners and professional services colleagues to amplify their voices in sharing research in areas addressing the conference themes.

Visit 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞.𝐜𝐨.𝐮𝐤 for further details on the conference and how to submit. For enquiries, email: [email protected] and/or [email protected]

Call for Submissions.

We are pleased to announce the call for submissions for the conference Holding the Space: Shining a Light on Black Academics.

We invite submissions that engage with the following themes:

• Career trajectories: Career precarity, promotion, progression and/or strategies for success in the higher education sector
• Journeying through academia: Strategies and accounts of navigating, surviving and thriving in higher education spaces
• Critical pedagogies: Social justice, decolonial and anti-racist work in higher education
• Shielding and self-care: Cultural taxation, mental healthand wellbeing
• Identity: Intersectionality, its form and implications
• Addressing racial equity: Tackling systemic inequities and advocating for change in higher education

By holding the space, we hope that delegates can foster a powerful and inspiring exchange of ideas while providing greater visibility for Black staff and students within the academic community. Join us for a much-needed space to learn, collaborate and network.

We welcome contributions in various formats to ensure a rich and engaging conference experience:

• Paper presentations: 400-word abstract (including references) and 100-word biography.
• Panel discussions: 500-word abstract (including references), and 100-word biography. Please include at least two papers with another one sought by the presenter(s) once the proposal is accepted.
• Poster presentation: 250-word abstract summarising the overall objectives, methods and results, and 100-word biography.
• Artistic performances: 400-word proposal on the performance piece, and 100-word biography.
• Volunteering: Expressions of interest listing relevant experience and skills.

All submissions should be sent to:
[email protected]. In your email, please clearly label the subject field with the type of contribution you propose.

The deadline for submissions is 16th September 2024.

All academics, professional services colleagues, students,
senior leaders in higher education, charity and third-sector
colleagues welcome to attend.