May 2022 marks the one-year anniversary of 'A Write Space', led by Mairi Macintyre and Kate Mawson. The programme began in May 2021, supported by the Warwick International Higher Education Academy WIHEA through their Masterclass programme. Then, the Research Active Staff (RAS) development programme team – previously Anna Chapman, with the support of Jane Cooper - worked with Kate and Mairi to continue the initiative through the Research Active Staff development programme, led by Leadership and Management Development. Kate and Mairi have run a six-week programme back-to-back since the launch, and we would like to celebrate their one-year anniversary and thank them for their commitment to helping staff reach their writing goals.

Authors say ‘A Write Space’ has given them the focus, accountability, and companionship to progress written work that has led to numerous conference abstracts, papers, revisions, applications for fellowships and promotions. A secondary outcome that was not anticipated was a real sense of belonging by those who take part. Participants return to this group time and time again because they know this is their writing space.

The success of the programme has grown, with Mairi and Kate receiving an invitation to run a workshop at iCERi 2021, an international education conference, run remotely, from Seville. They have also presented a poster, Does membership of an institution-based peer led writing group with online support engender an effective community of practice for academic writing? Mawson and Macintyre (2021) SRHE Conference 2021 Society for Research into Higher Education.

The ‘Write Space’ network has expanded, and with Kate and Mairi’s support and materials, writing groups have been set up at Henley Business School, Reading University, UK, University of the Free State (UFS), South Africa, Saint Leo University, Florida, USA.

Harriet Richmond, the Organisation Development Consultant for Research Active Staff said "We feel incredibly fortunate to be celebrating this anniversary alongside Mairi and Kate, and look forward to our continued collaboration hosting this important and much-needed space for researchers".

Book a place on the next iteration of 'A Write Space'.Link opens in a new window