Tag: UWE Bristol

South East Asia and UK Gender Equality Diversity and Inclusion Forum

Author Lynn Goh | Posted on

Written by Dr Tariq Umar

In late October 2025, academic and sector leaders from Southeast Asia and the UK gathered in London for the SEA–UK GEDI Leadership Forum, supported by the British Council and SEAMEO RIHED. Among those presenting was Dr Tariq Umar, Senior Lecturer at UWE Bristol, showcasing emerging findings from the collaborative research project, Building psychological resilience in women leaders: Strengthening support systems in Malaysian and Indonesian universities.

The Forum brought together senior university leaders, policy partners, government ministries, and researchers to reflect on progress achieved across the GEDI (Gender Equity, Diversity & Inclusivity) programme, share institutional innovations, and plan the next phase of development to advance gender-responsive leadership in higher education.

A regional challenge with global significance

Women academics and university leaders across Southeast Asia are achieving notable progress and increasingly contributing to institutional strategy, national development agendas, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. However, many still face well-recognised pressures, including:

  • limited visibility of leadership pathways
  • conflicting expectations around professional and family roles
  • implicit gender bias and stereotypes
  • gaps in institutional support for mental health and work–life balance
  • lower access to mentoring and structured leadership development

To explore this, UWE Bristol partnered with Universiti Malaya (UM), Malaysia and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Indonesia through the funded project titled “Building psychological resilience in women leaders: Strengthening support systems in Malaysian and Indonesian Universities” to examine how women leaders sustain resilience in demanding academic environments. The project gathered survey data, focus group discussions, and leadership insights from academic, administrative, and student participants across both institutions. Earlier in September this year, the project held its public engagement event in UM, Malaysia which included the activities such as awareness sessions, trainings, panel discussion, guest lectures and meeting with the University of Malaya leadership – to share the results and recommendations arriving from the project.

What the research revealed

Initial findings from UM and UGM highlight several co-existing realities:

1. Work-life balance is the most significant barrier

A large majority of participants across both universities reaffirmed that balancing family responsibilities and leadership roles remain one of the most persistent constraints. While policies exist, implementation is uneven, and informal expectations often dissuade women from pursuing leadership opportunities.

2. Psychological resilience matters

Many participants described imposter feelings and self-doubt – not unusual for emerging women leaders navigating scrutiny, gendered norms, and multi-role pressure. However, mentoring and leadership coaching were found to significantly reduce these experiences, reinforcing the need for structured and consistent support.

3. Mental health support is growing – but needs strengthening

Although peer support was strong, formal access to psychological support was limited, particularly counselling and professional services. Respondents expressed a need for longer-term, better-communicated, and institution-wide approaches.

4. GEDI policy exists – but awareness is uneven

While staff widely acknowledged that institutional leadership values GEDI principles, not all community members feel directly connected to these policies in practice. Many reported limited awareness of existing programmes and suggested stronger communication, visibility, and continuity.

5. Institutional culture shapes aspirations

The strongest enabling factors identified across the study included:

  • Mentorship and role models
  • Supportive supervisors
  • Peer networks
  • Inclusive leadership signalling from senior management

In campuses where these were present and visible, women were more confident in pursuing promotions and opportunities.

Read the full report

Learning together: inside the SEA-UK GEDI Forum

Over three days, the Forum examined how universities in the UK and Southeast Asia can learn from each other to accelerate GEDI implementation.

Day one: GEDI in practice – a UK campus lens

Participants visited the Institute of Developmental Studies to explore:

  • Inclusive campus design
  • EDI-led leadership development programmes
  • Student engagement strategies
  • Governance structures for equitable policy delivery

A roundtable session allowed staff and students to compare the UK approach to Southeast Asian contexts, identifying replicable practices—from integrated reporting systems to co-designed leadership initiatives.

Day two: Action planning and knowledge exchange

During the British Council roundtable, participants discussed challenges and successes from Phase II of the programme, focusing on:

  • What meaningful impact has been achieved so far?
  • Which UK practices have already been adapted locally?
  • How can Southeast Asian insights inform work in the UK?

Breakout groups co-designed next steps, including clearer monitoring frameworks, shared digital resources, and cross-institutional mentoring models.

Day three: Public forum and policy engagement

A public dissemination event brought together more than 80 stakeholders. Through panel discussions, rapid-fire project showcases, and dialogue with policymakers, participants reflected on:

  • maintaining momentum in higher education reform
  • the value of comparative learning between the UK and Southeast Asia
  • opportunities for sustained regional collaboration in Phase III

Projects, including Dr Umar’s, demonstrated how grounded research can generate actionable solutions that help universities move from commitment to transformation.

UWE Bristol’s contribution

Dr Umar presented emerging results from the UM–UGM–UWE Bristol research, including a new modelling approach using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The analysis showed that:

Strong GEDI systems directly improve leadership access, mental-health wellbeing, and work–life balance among women leaders.

In other words, policies alone are not enough – how they are lived institutionally fundamentally shapes whether women feel able to lead. The findings provide practical evidence that universities benefit when:

  • leadership development includes psychological resilience
  • policies are experienced consistently across departments.
  • women are supported through mentorship and recognition.
  • mental health is normalised and resourced.
  • family commitments are not positioned as a leadership disadvantage.

This research also helps institutions benchmark progress and plan future interventions grounded in staff experience.

Looking forward

The Forum made clear that gender-responsive leadership development in higher education is advancing across the region, but momentum must be maintained. Across UM, UGM, and UWE Bristol, several shared priorities emerged:

  • Develop structured cross-institution mentoring networks
  • Increase leadership visibility and pathways for women
  • Embed psychological resilience training
  • Strengthen institutionalised support for mental health
  • Align policy, culture, and practice more closely
  • Improve programme communication and student involvement

As the GEDI programme moves into its next phase, partners aim to scale these solutions across additional universities and ministries in Southeast Asia.

A shared commitment to lasting change

The SEA-UK GEDI Forum demonstrated that transforming leadership ecosystems is not only a question of training women to lead, but of reshaping the conditions that enable leadership to flourish. This includes changing narratives, shifting perceptions, and designing institutions where confidence, aspiration, and wellbeing are supported—not tested.

With continued collaboration between UK and Southeast Asian partners, the project is well-placed to contribute to:

  • systemic institutional reform
  • stronger leadership pipelines
  • and more resilient, inclusive higher education communities.

The journey is ongoing, but the foundation laid so far marks an important step toward equitable and sustainable leadership in the region.

Introducing the 2025 Entrepreneurial Futures Award Winners

Author ripleywk | Posted on

Guest Writer Lily Majid Student Ventures

Thanks to the incredible generosity of UWE Bristol alumnus Peter Fane, who donated £250,000 to support our entrepreneurial ecosystem over five years, we’re proud to announce the 2025 recipients of the Entrepreneurial Futures Award. Each winner receives up to £20,000 in funding, plus tailored support from our Student Ventures team. These are resources that can make all the difference at the start of someone’s entrepreneurial journey.

This year’s cohort represents the remarkable breadth of innovation emerging from UWE Bristol. From marine conservation technology to regenerative agriculture, accessibility enhancing performance systems to AI powered recruitment solutions, these ventures are working across the board with creativity, technical expertise, and great social impact.

What unites these diverse entrepreneurs is their commitment to building sustainable businesses that matter. Each has demonstrated their entrepreneurial ability through UWE Bristol’s support programmes and shown a clear vision for growth beyond graduation.

Find out more about each of the Entrepreneurial Futures Award fund recipients below.

Entrepreneurial Futures Award winners 2025 

Benjamin Mallinson – Signal Bridge 

Signal Bridge is changing the way we collect underwater sound data. Traditional methods depend on surface buoys and frequent trips to retrieve recordings, which are expensive, risky, and often create noise that affects data quality. Signal Bridge solves these problems with a smart module that stays deep and quiet, only coming to the surface when it needs to send data or recharge using solar power. This simple approach cuts costs, reduces environmental impact, and delivers cleaner, more reliable acoustic data for marine research. 

The system works seamlessly with existing Passive Acoustic Monitoring setups, allowing scientists to track ocean ecosystems for longer periods without interruption. By bridging the gap between sensors and researchers, Signal Bridge makes high-quality data collection easier and more scalable – helping us better understand and protect marine environments worldwide. With this innovative technology, ocean intelligence is becoming more accessible, affordable, and impactful than ever before. 

Katie Hounsham – Barraquito 

Barraquito is redefining Southampton’s coffee culture. Launched in July 2025, this independent specialty coffee and bar concept was created to tackle the city’s “Third Place Deficit” – the lack of welcoming spaces beyond home and work. In just three and a half months, Barraquito has become a local favourite, serving over 8,000 coffees and earning a 98.5% five-star review rate. By focussing on exceptional service, quality products, and genuine community engagement, they offer more than great coffee; it’s a vibrant social hub where people can connect, relax, and feel at home. 

The mission behind Barraquito is bold: to lead a transformation in hospitality by creating a space where people feel welcome and connected. The team believes great coffee and brilliant service should go hand in hand with a strong sense of community. As they grow, their vision is to bring this experience to more cities across the UK, proving that hospitality can be warm, authentic, and consistent no matter the scale. 

Billy Barker – Arquip 

Arquip is reinventing the welding mask for a safer, smarter future. For decades, welding masks have barely changed – it’s bulky, limits visibility, and makes training harder. These outdated designs contribute to thousands of eye injuries every year. Arquip was born from real-world experience to solve these problems. Its next-generation mask uses dual cameras and a high-resolution digital display to give welders a clear, unobstructed view of their work. Trainees can see more, instructors can teach more effectively, and businesses benefit from reduced risk and downtime. 

Since launching in early 2025, Arquip has moved quickly from concept to prototype. Now, with a fully sourced dual-camera stereoscopic design in development, the team is preparing for field testing with welding training centres already expressing interest. Arquip’s mission is simple: make welding safer, easier, and more efficient – starting with the mask that every welder depends on. 

Christopher Russell Middleton – Mycobiome 

Farming starts with healthy soil – and MycoBiome makes that possible through science. This biotechnology company is developing advanced biofertilisers that boost soil health, improve nutrient uptake, and reduce reliance on chemical inputs. Their approach combines microbial inoculants with expert advisory services, delivering measurable benefits like better yield stability, increased soil carbon, and long-term land resilience. 

Behind MycoBiome is a multidisciplinary team blending engineering, mycology, and agricultural expertise. Since its launch, the company has initiated field trials with early adopter farms, designed a business model that integrates carbon credit schemes, and built partnerships with research institutions. Their mission is clear: make science-driven soil solutions accessible to every farmer, and lead the UK’s transition toward regenerative agriculture. By turning cutting-edge microbiology into practical tools, MycoBiome is paving the way for a future where farming works in harmony with nature. 

Faizan Mir – Scootrr 

Scootrr is making e-scooter riding safer and smarter. Micromobility is booming in cities, but with that comes challenges – high accident rates, risky rider behaviour, and compliance issues. Scootrr tackles these problems with an innovative on-vehicle camera system powered by Edge-AI. It spots hazards in real time, moderates speed, and encourages safer riding – all without relying on slow cloud systems. The hardware is designed to fit easily into existing scooters, making it simple for operators to upgrade their fleets. 

In just a short time, Scootrr has shipped its first prototype to Voi, secured interest from major operators, and is preparing for pilot programs in Bristol. By combining cutting-edge technology with practical design, Scootrr is helping cities and operators reduce accidents, improve rider safety, and build trust in micromobility. It’s a big step toward making urban transport not just convenient, but truly safe. 

Michael Fergie – Haptek 

Haptek brings a new sensory layer to concerts, theatre, and immersive arts: sound you can feel. This tech venture is developing next-generation haptic floor systems that turn audio into precise vibrations and synchronised lighting. Their modular platform, Haptagon, creates environments where audiences don’t just hear music or performance – they experience it physically. Designed to be scalable and event-ready, Haptek’s system enhances engagement while making events more inclusive for d/Deaf, Disabled, and Neurodiverse audiences. 

Haptek is led by Michael Fergie, who brings over a decade of experience in sound and haptic technology, including five years creating haptic floor systems for major UK venues like the Southbank Centre and Roundhouse Theatre. With strong feedback from accessibility advocates and immersive experience designers, Haptek is setting the stage for a future where performance is multi-sensory and shared by everyone. By combining cutting-edge engineering with inclusive design, Haptek is redefining what it means to feel the music. 

Oliver Tyler – Shroot and Kabloom 

From wildflower seed bombs to microgreen kits, Shroot creates eco-friendly, growable gifts that are as practical as they are beautiful. Designing and manufactures growable gifts across a small house of brands: Seedbom/Kabloom, Greens & Greetings, Bottle Farm, and Wildflower Wishes. Every product is assembled in-house to maintain quality and speed, using responsibly sourced materials like coir, a coconut by-product that supports fair trade in Sri Lanka and India. Their wildflower mixes are 100% wildflower and tailored for UK conditions, making each product a simple way to create habitats and support biodiversity. 

Since acquiring the business in 2022, founder Oliver Tyler has grown Shroot into a trusted name with over 1,100 stockists and 850 brand partners, including Harrods, Liberty London, Kew Gardens – while scaling corporate campaigns with Vodafone and TK Maxx to tens of thousands of units. With 20% of profits funding Wild Britain, Shroot isn’t just creating gifts, it’s buying and protecting UK land for rewilding. Their vision is to become the UK’s leading eco gift house and a top 100 landowner for reviving nature.  

Pedro Do Rosario – Rosent 

Rosent is transforming recruitment by giving recruiters their time back. Instead of spending hours on repetitive admin tasks, recruiters can now focus on building relationships and closing deals. Rosent’s AI voice platform automates the most time-consuming parts of the job, freeing up nearly half a day and unlocking the potential to double billable revenue. This isn’t just efficiency; it’s a shift that can refine productivity and profitability in recruitment. 

In just four weeks, Rosent attracted over 1,000 sign-ups to its waitlist and earned recognition as one of EU-Startups’ “Top 50 Promising Early-Stage Startups in Europe.” They are gaining traction in a market eager for smarter, faster solutions with their simple mission: make recruitment more efficient, more human, and more impactful by letting AI handle the heavy lifting. 

Samuel Hodgson – Enviro IT 

Enviro IT gives technology a second life whilst reducing e-waste. Based at UWE Bristol, the company refurbishes redundant IT equipment from local SMEs – primarily laptops – making high-quality, durable devices accessible to students, families, charities, and professionals at prices starting from £150. Unlike low-cost, short-lived alternatives, these refurbished devices are built to last, promoting reuse over replacement and cutting environmental impact. Every collection includes secure data destruction using industry-standard tools, with GDPR-compliant certificates for peace of mind. 

Founded by Sam Hodgson, a Team Entrepreneurship graduate passionate about reducing IT waste, Enviro IT has already generated over £16,000 in revenue and sold more than 1,200 items through platforms like eBay. Their vision is to become Bristol’s leading IT recycling and refurbishing company – partnering with sustainability initiatives, creating training opportunities, and donating devices to those in need. By combining affordability, security, and sustainability, Enviro IT is proving that technology can be both accessible and responsible. 

William Crewe-Turrell – Bio Drive/Bio-Agri Ltd 

Bio-Agri Ltd is addressing one of the UK’s biggest agricultural challenges: over 100 million tonnes of organic waste produced annually by farms and anaerobic digestion (AD) plants. Conventional treatment systems are costly and inaccessible for smaller operators, leading to nutrient loss, water pollution, and rising compliance pressures. Their solution, the Bio-Recover System, is a compact, modular unit that transforms waste into clean water, liquid fertiliser, and dry compost-like solids. Designed for affordability and scalability, Bio-Recover helps farms and AD plants cut costs, meet environmental regulations, and embrace a circular economy. 

Their vision is to make nutrient and water recovery as common on farms as tractors—an everyday tool that supports sustainable agriculture and energy. Over the next five years, they aim to roll out Bio-Recover units across the UK, proving that advanced waste treatment doesn’t require high cost or complexity. Looking ahead, Bio-Agri sees global potential, turning organic waste into a resource for clean water, affordable fertiliser, and renewable energy – reducing emissions, restoring water quality, and strengthening food and energy security worldwide. 

To all our 2025 winners: congratulations, and here’s to your continued success. The future looks bright.

Want to follow in their footsteps? Keep an eye on the Student Ventures webpage for information about future Entrepreneurial Futures Award opportunities and other support programmes available to UWE Bristol entrepreneur

Enterprise that fuels progress: Bristol Sanctuary Theatre, Supporting Refugees Through Creative Expression.

Author ripleywk | Posted on

Renata Mendes is the founder of Bristol Sanctuary Theatre, a community-led company that supports refugees and migrants by creating a platform for joint artistic expression and co-creation. Bristol Sanctuary Theatre helps its community with integration and healing through the creation of original theatre works.

About the project

Bristol Sanctuary Theatre began when Renata, a UWE Bristol Drama and Acting student with a background in psychology and anthropology, connected her own experiences as an immigrant with the challenges faced by refugees and migrants in Bristol. Working with Dr Fahrudin Salihbegovic, who had been supporting refugees and migrants through drama, Renata witnessed people flourish through the art.

“I met a bunch of lovely people who are refugees and migrants, so for them it’s even harder… I say, what can we do here? What can we create?”

From there, Bristol Sanctuary Theatre was born, a Community Interest Company (CIC) with support from UWE Bristol’s Student Ventures programme.

Partnership in action

As Bristol proudly holds Sanctuary City status and UWE Bristol is a University of Sanctuary, Bristol Sanctuary Theatre builds on this foundation of welcome and support. The project brings together UWE Bristol, which provides academic support and student involvement through the Drama and Acting programme, alongside City of Bristol College, which engages refugee and migrant students in creative work. Bristol Beacon hosts performances and provides a platform for voices to be heard, while Bristol Refugee Festival helps connect the work with wider community initiatives.

In June, the company delivered a powerful performance at Bristol Beacon featuring refugee students from City of Bristol College alongside UWE students.

“We performed a play at Bristol Beacon about refugees with refugees, they are students at Bristol College … (it was a) really beautiful achievement for us, with very, very positive feedback… the audience cried and laughed so it was really yeah fulfilling our heart I would say.”

Aims and impact

Bristol Sanctuary Theatre creates a safe, inclusive space where cultural differences are celebrated rather than sidelined. Through storytelling and creative expression, the project challenges harmful narratives about refugees and migrants whilst providing opportunities for skill development and artistic growth. At its core, the work builds connections between diverse communities across Bristol, fostering understanding and respect. “The most important value we want to create,” Renata emphasises, “is a community that can accept the difference.”

Building confidence and capability

UWE’s Student Ventures programme has been instrumental in developing the enterprise. “Of course, there’s the budget,” Renata notes. “But also, and I think it’s the most important, were the mentors.”

The support helped Renata develop a clear mission, vision, values, and business plan. “They never told me, do that. You should do that. They said, there’s all those ways and you can choose. So it was really a freedom of choices but educated choices.”

For Renata personally, studying Drama and Acting at UWE was “really a revelation.” She found her voice and creativity while being embraced by staff and students. “I was thinking, am I going to a university in England? It must be so hard. It was the opposite. It was super lovely. It’s an explosion of creativity.”

Next steps

Bristol Sanctuary Theatre is now expanding to work with adults who have creative arts backgrounds, creating what Renata calls “a point of trust for them to come.”

“Bristol Sanctuary Theatre that’s not theatre, it’s arts,” she says with excitement. “And I’m very excited, I think it’s going to be brilliant.”

Bristol Sanctuary Theatre’s vision is a UK cultural landscape where the voices of refugees and migrants are essential, not sidelined—reclaiming narratives and celebrating new voices through collaborative art.