Fostering Belonging: Empowering Doctoral and Early Career Researchers in Intercultural Research Context

Fostering Belonging: Empowering Doctoral and Early Career Researchers in Intercultural Research Context

Lead: Azadeh Moladoost, Applied Linguistics

Co-leads: Nusrat Gulzar, Applied Linguistics and Elyanora Menglieva, Applied Linguistics

Summary

Fostering Belonging: Empowering Doctoral and Early Career Researchers in Intercultural Research Contexts explored how doctoral researchers (PGRs) and early career researchers (ECRs) at Warwick experience belonging across their academic journeys. Drawing on workshops, focus groups, reflective writing, and creative activities, the project found that belonging is not simply about feeling welcomed; it is shaped by supportive relationships, emotional safety, fair institutional structures, meaningful opportunities for participation, and recognition of researchers’ developing identities.

The findings showed that supervisors, peers, and small research communities play a central role in fostering belonging, while everyday acts of care, cultural sensitivity, and informal connection can make a significant difference. At the same time, belonging was often weakened by structural inequalities such as uneven access to resources, unclear communication, funding insecurity, limited cross-departmental connection, and challenges linked to visa processes and post-PhD transitions. Participants also highlighted that opportunities for teaching, publishing, collaboration, and student-led initiatives strengthened confidence, identity, and a sense of academic legitimacy.

Based on these insights, the project developed a set of evidence-informed recommendations for Warwick and the Doctoral College. These include strengthening supervisor-led induction and peer support, promoting emotionally intelligent supervision, improving mental health and well-being pathways, ensuring clearer and more equitable institutional processes, expanding opportunities for agency and recognition, and providing stronger support during key transition points such as arrival, progression, submission, and post-viva stages. Overall, the project argues that belonging must be intentionally designed and supported through both relational care and structural fairness if doctoral researchers and ECRs are to flourish.

Click here to read the full project report including findings and recommendations.

Assets