Taking a no-assumed-knowledge approach, the guide provides accessible information on topics including university structures, governance, academic career pathways, research funding, key organisations, and common academic terminology.
Originally developed as part of the At-Risk Scholars and Professionals initiative - which is co-led by Ana Blanco Alvarez (Reader in Advanced Construction in Materials and Methods at Loughborough University) - the resource has broader relevance for anyone seeking to better understand UK academia, including students, researchers new to the UK, professional services staff, policymakers, charities, businesses, and organisations working with universities.
Anthony Kevins, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Studies at Loughborough University and the resource development lead, said: “Expertise and capability are not erased when someone is forcibly displaced from their own country. Yet we see that professional networks, institutional knowledge, career momentum, and cultural capital can be.
“For early-career professionals — who are often still in the process of establishing their professional identities — navigating displacement can be particularly challenging.
"The UK Young Academy is privileged to have access to a wide variety of experts and perspectives from across the UK, including from those with at-risk backgrounds. Many of those perspectives helped create this resource, which we hope will empower at-risk scholars to navigate our institutions through knowledge.”
If you are interested in applying to the UK Young Academy next year, please follow the Loughborough University's Research Academy SharePoint site for news about this opportunity.