Introducing Thrive with Professor Georgina Endfield

Posted on: 16 October 2023 by Professor Georgina Endfield in 2023

Professor Georgina Endfield, APVC for the Research Environment at the University of Liverpool, is a project co-leader of the Thrive project. Read on to hear her tell us in her own words about this exciting project:

Thrive: creating a positive, inclusive, and respectful culture in research teams

I’m excited to announce that the University of Liverpool has joined forces with Advance HE and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to launch Thrive - a two-year project funded by Research England to develop and define a new model of team-based working to encourage greater diversity and inclusivity in research teams.   

This project offers us the opportunity to reshape and refocus the way in which research teams operate, enabling a diverse array of research leaders to make meaningful contributions within a team.   
  
But we know there will be both challenges and opportunities, so extensive engagement will be a core part of the project. We will be working collectively with stakeholders including colleagues from universities, non-HEI partner organisations, research institutions and funding bodies to help us to identify the challenges and opportunities of teams-based working.   
  
We will encourage a wide range of diverse perspectives to help us identify the principles of inclusive and collaborative teamwork. We will welcome all perspectives, as we navigate the challenges, grasp the opportunities, and drive a profound cultural shift. Then, using these findings we will help shape an AHRC pilot funding call, due to be launched in Spring 2024.  

Breaking Free from Traditional Models 

In effect, we will be piloting a fundamental shift to promote collaborative leadership, which in turn, will help enhance team performance and develop a more positive and rewarding culture in research.   
  
This project is about breaking down silos and fostering a culture of cross-functional collaboration, trust, and open communication. What makes this shift even more exciting is its planned integration into AHRC’s upcoming funding call. We hope to not only reshape research leadership but also promote this innovative approach across the wider research landscape.   
  
The end goal of the project is to develop a more positive, inclusive and respectful culture, that fosters cross-functional relationships that are built on trust and communication.  I’m really excited to be a part of this exciting work and encourage you to get involved.

Get involved   

There will be lots of opportunities to get involved. Between October 2023 and March 2024, we will be holding various events, and our first online event is on Tuesday 14 November where we will share and explore different experiences, identify best practice examples, discuss lessons learned and explore any barriers to team-led research.    
  
We will encourage open and transparent conversations so we can fully explore the challenges and opportunities to help us co-create positive research cultures and environments.   
  
This is your opportunity to get involved. If you have an experience to share and want to help co-develop the new model, get involved. You can also learn more about Thrive on our website.