Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) at Bridging Divides
Building more equitable research
At Bridging Divides, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are integral to research excellence, and seen as an ongoing process of learning, action and accountability that involves leadership, researchers, staff, Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP), students and partners.
As a national and interdisciplinary research program focused on migration and integration, we study communities shaped by diverse identities, experiences, histories and relationships. This requires us to think critically not only about what we research, but how research is conducted, who participates, whose knowledge is valued, and who benefits from the knowledge we create.
We recognize that systemic barriers continue to shape access, participation, career progression and belonging within academia and research. Our responsibility is therefore not simply to increase representation, but to identify and address the structures, practices and processes that can reproduce inequity.
Our approach
Our approach is grounded in four interconnected pillars that guide how we research, collaborate, learn and make decisions across Bridging Divides. These pillars reflect our commitment to addressing systemic barriers while building a more equitable and inclusive research environment.
1. Co-creation
Our research creates opportunities for communities and partners to help shape research questions, methods and approaches, from co-developing questionnaires to informing how knowledge is gathered and shared.
2. Data-driven and evidence-based strategies
Our EDI work uses Self-Identification data, surveys, feedback and research reporting to identify gaps and guide action, while supporting researchers in considering whose perspectives are represented and how data is collected, interpreted and used throughout the research process.
3. Intersectional lens
Our work applies an intersectional lens to consider how factors such as race, gender, disability, class and migration experiences can interact to shape research participation, access and belonging, and whose experiences may be overlooked.
4. Continuous learning
Our EDI work creates ongoing opportunities for researchers, staff and HQP to strengthen their knowledge, reflect on assumptions and translate learning into more equitable research and workplace practices through workshops, facilitated discussions, resources and community-informed learning.
From commitment to action
Bridging Divides has begun translating these principles into initiatives across our research, training, recruitment, community engagement, knowledge mobilization and organizational practices.
Our EDI Action Plan was itself informed by co-creation. A baseline survey and follow-up interviews with researchers, staff and HQP helped identify barriers including underrepresentation and tokenism, biases in hiring and promotion, limited mentorship, barriers within research methodologies and insufficient EDI training and resources.
These findings continue to inform how we build and strengthen our EDI work.
Creating new pathways into research
Paid research opportunities, mentorship and professional development create pathways into academia for undergraduate and graduate students, research assistants, postdoctoral fellows and Early Career Researchers, with particular attention to groups historically underrepresented in research.
Learning and building capacity
Workshops, facilitated discussions and learning resources equip researchers, staff and HQP to recognize barriers, reflect on assumptions and apply more equitable practices across research, supervision, leadership and collaboration.
Embedding EDI in research
EDI considerations are integrated into research design and planning by examining whose experiences are represented, how data are collected, which methodologies are used, and how findings are interpreted and shared.
Listening to our research community
Feedback, consultation, lived experiences and self-Identification data is gathered and used to better understand barriers across our research community and inform EDI priorities, learning initiatives and organizational practices.
Co-creating with communities
Guided by the principle “Nothing about us, without us,” community partners, practitioners and people with lived experience are actively involved throughout the research cycle, from shaping research priorities and questions to interpreting findings and sharing knowledge. Fellowship initiatives also bring journalists, civil society leaders and other knowledge users into our research community, strengthening the exchange of knowledge, expertise and lived experience.
Making knowledge more accessible
Accessible events, alternative formats, and community partnerships help ensure that knowledge can reach and be used by communities, practitioners, policymakers and other audiences beyond academia.
From initiatives to systemic change
EDI is not a destination or a checklist. Our next phase focuses on moving from individual initiatives toward even more consistent, sustainable and integrated approaches to EDI, building on the commitments established in our EDI Action Plan.
As more projects produce important findings, knowledge mobilization through an EDI lens is becoming an important priority. This means considering not only what knowledge is produced, but who can access it, how it is communicated and shared, whose perspectives are reflected, and how communities, practitioners, policymakers and other knowledge users can engage with and use research beyond academic spaces.
Our participation in the CFREF EDI Community of Practice also creates opportunities to exchange practices and experiences with other CFREF-funded research programs, learn from shared challenges and strengthen our approach alongside the broader research community.
As Bridging Divides continues to evolve, so will our EDI work, through continued listening, learning, reflection and evaluation. The goal is a research environment where people from different backgrounds and experiences can participate, contribute, develop, lead and belong, and where equity, diversity and inclusion are understood as fundamental to research excellence.
