Workstream 4 addressed inconsistencies in empathy and inclusive leadership that could disadvantage underrepresented groups. Building on learning from Workstreams 1–3, CIRCLE was developed collaboratively with researchers and research leaders to support more inclusive and empathic research cultures.

Drawing on human-centred approaches, specialist expertise and engagement with the research community, CIRCLE explored barriers to inclusive leadership and identified practical, evidence-informed ways to support researchers more equitably.

The work recognised that meaningful culture change required leaders and colleagues to engage with experiences beyond their own, including conversations that could sometimes feel uncomfortable. Through this approach, CIRCLE (Creating Inclusive Research Culture through Leading with Empathy) toolkit aimed to encourage greater empathy, inclusion and equity across the research environment.

The workstream outputs:

• International Research Culture Conference – September 2025
• Research Carousel: Leading with Empathy: Codesigning a toolkit for Empathic and Inclusive Research Leadership
• AdvanceHE Research Symposium 2025: Enablers and Inhibitors of Thriving Research Cultures – June 2025
• Poster: Leading with Empathy: Co-designing a toolkit for Empathic and Inclusive Research Leadership
• I-REACCH EDI Summer School June 2025

Workshop: Intersectionality & Research Culture

• UKRI Understanding Inclusive Leadership: shaping research & innovation culture November 2024
• Oral Presentation: Empathic Leadership, Co-Design and Culture Change

Resources

• White C, et al. CIRCLE: Creating Inclusive Research Cultures through Leading with Empathy. University of Leicester; 2026. Co-designed interactive toolkit supporting reflection and practical action around inclusive research leadership and research culture. Lead developer. Licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

Manuscript under review:

• White C, Uddin M, Singh A, et al. Understanding empathic and inclusive research leadership through lived experience in higher education. Journal of Further and Higher Education. Under review.

Manuscripts in Progress

• Co-designing and evaluating CIRCLE: a toolkit for inclusive and empathic research leadership 

Upcoming papers 

• Embedding lived experience within the Double Diamond: A two-layer participatory framework for research-culture intervention design. (Title subject to change) 
• Lessons learnt from CIRCLE (title subject to change)