Relational mentoring in postgraduate research: Black scholars' experiences of the ASPIRE programme.
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| Title: | Relational mentoring in postgraduate research: Black scholars' experiences of the ASPIRE programme. |
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| Authors: | Awolowo, Ifedapo Francis1 i.f.awolowo@shu.ac.uk, Olawoyin, Femi Stephen1, Abidoye, Adenike1, Ode, Egena2, Ajao, Oluwaseun2, Dosumu, Oluwatoyin3 |
| Source: | Widening Participation & Lifelong Learning. Jun2026, Vol. 28 Issue 1, p105-134. 30p. |
| Abstract: | Black students' under-representation in postgraduate research (PGR) pathways within the UK higher education (HE) sector reflects persistent structural inequalities rather than episodic participation gaps. While widening participation scholarship has focused largely on undergraduate access, less attention has been paid to relational and epistemic barriers shaping doctoral trajectories. Grounded in critical race theory and anti-deficit scholarship, this article examines how Black scholars participating in a culturally grounded mentoring programme interpreted their experiences within racialised PGR contexts. Drawing on qualitative data from semi-structured interviews and dialogic ‘listening rooms', analysed through reflexive thematic analysis and a multistakeholder round-table analysis, the study integrates Bell's (2018) concept of the permanence of racism, Delgado's (1989) counterstorytelling, and Yosso's (2005) community cultural wealth framework alongside Ubuntu (Tutu, 1999) and Omoluabi (Oyeshile, 2021) philosophies. Findings indicate that participants described identity affirmation, bounded belonging and strengthened navigational agency. Rather than framing these shifts as remediation of deficit, the analysis interprets them as institutional recognition and activation of existing cultural wealth. The article conceptualises culturally grounded mentoring as relational equity infrastructure, operating within enduring institutional constraints advancing a theoretically integrated model to support Black scholars in PGR environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Widening Participation & Lifelong Learning is the property of Open University, Centre for Widening Participation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 195447013 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=195447013 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.5456/WPLL.28.1.105 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 30 StartPage: 105 Titles: – TitleFull: Relational mentoring in postgraduate research: Black scholars' experiences of the ASPIRE programme. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Awolowo, Ifedapo Francis – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Olawoyin, Femi Stephen – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Abidoye, Adenike – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Ode, Egena – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Ajao, Oluwaseun – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Dosumu, Oluwatoyin IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 06 Text: Jun2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 14666529 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 28 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Widening Participation & Lifelong Learning Type: main |
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