CGHE & Tohoku University Online Roundtable: Supportive Research Cultures

Professor Masahiro Yamaguchi is Vice President for Education Reform and Global Engagement, Director of Advance Graduate School, Director of the Global Learning Center and the Center for Culture and Language Education in the Institute for Excellence in Higher Education, and Director of the International Strategy Office at Tohoku University. He has played an important role in the internationalization of the university, in particular designing Tohoku University’s international strategy and international education programmes. Professor Yamaguchi specialises in theoretical particle physics and cosmology and was awarded the Nishinomiya-Yukawa Memorial Prize in 1996.

Dr Frances Morton is Deputy Director of Research Talent Development at the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), leading on ESRC’s strategic development in investment and policies in researcher skills development and methodological development and innovation. Frances also leads on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), positioning ESRC to play a leading role in championing EDI within the social sciences. Prior to joining ESRC, Frances was Head of Workforce EDI for UK Research and Innovation, and has held roles in EDI and higher education and research policy development at the Open University and QAA Scotland. She has a wealth of experience of working in partnership with government departments and sector bodies.

Emma Todd is Director of Research Culture at UCL. She provides strategic oversight of UCL’s work to develop a collaborative, inclusive and supportive research culture and has responsibility for the design and implementation of UCL’s Research Culture Roadmap – an ambitious programme of change and improvement which works with multiple stakeholders across UCL and within the wider research community.

Mary Assad is a Change Manager in Research Culture at UCL. Her role involves working to empower UCL teams, key stakeholders and networks to implement and successfully drive and embed inclusive and cultural change. She is an experienced Change professional, previously having led multiple organisational, EDI and technology transformations across international teams in various media companies, including M&C Saatchi, Clear Channel and ITV plc.

Professor Kazuko Suematsu is Associate Executive Vice President for International Affairs and Deputy Director of the Global Learning Center at Tohoku University. She holds a pivotal role in shaping the university’s internationalization efforts. She is responsible for Tohoku University’s international strategy, overseeing and coordinating various international projects for both domestic and international students, and teaching intercultural education at graduate and undergraduate levels. She is joint PI on the project ‘Delivering research excellence within an inclusive, diverse and equitable research culture.

Professor Lynn Ang is the Pro-Director and Vice-Dean Research at UCL Institute of Education. Her role involves strategic leadership of IOE’s overall research strategy and all research-related areas including impact and engagement, ethics, global engagement, research development, and the Centre for Doctoral Education. Lynn has extensive academic leadership and management experience of over two decades and has served in various senior leadership roles including Chair of UCL Research Ethics Committee, Head of Ethics and Governance and Head of the Learning and Leadership Department. She is joint PI on the project ‘Delivering research excellence within an inclusive, diverse and equitable research culture.’