UoG to host British Academy-funded workshop for Early Career Researchers

University of Gloucestershire will bring together Early Career Researchers working across the SHAPE disciplines – Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts for People and the Economy – for a British Academy-funded research methods workshop.

The multidisciplinary event – entitled Reflexive Thematic Analysis: An Applied Skills Workshop for SHAPE Researchers – will be hosted at the University’s Oxstalls Campus on Thursday, 18 June.

The University has secured funding from the British Academy – the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences – which supports UK and international academic research, career development and wider engagement across the humanities and social sciences.

Co‑organised by Dr Ruffin Relja and Dr Sabina Fiebig Lord from the University’s School of Business, Computing and Social Sciences, the one-day workshop will provide participants with a clear, applied understanding of Reflexive Thematic Analysis (TA).

The workshop will include interactive sessions on the philosophical foundations of reflexive TA – one of the most widely used qualitative methods – its methodological application and alignment, and the role of analytic reflexivity in producing conceptually coherent, high‑impact qualitative research.

Participants will engage in guided activities, reflective discussion, and opportunities for peer exchange, as well as dedicated time for networking and collaboration across SHAPE fields.

The workshop will be led by Dr Lisa Trainor (Swansea University), co‑editor of the forthcoming special issue New Developments and Good Practice in Reflexive TA. Dr Trainor is an experienced qualitative researcher whose work focuses on strengthening and demystifying qualitative methods, particularly Reflexive TA.

She also researches athlete psychological well-being and brings deep expertise in conceptual clarity, reflexivity, and applied analytic practice.

Lead organiser, Dr Relja. said: “We are extremely pleased to have secured the support of the British Academy for this event. This funding allows us to bring ECRs together in a shared space for methodological learning and exchange, fostering a strong research culture and methodological excellence across SHAPE disciplines.

“We are particularly looking forward to welcoming colleagues from across the South West and South Wales cluster and supporting the development of new connections and collaborations.”

Workshop lead, Dr Lisa Trainor, said: “It is extremely valuable to have events like this that bring ECRs together. This workshop will contribute to multidisciplinary perspective sharing, analytical skill development, and insight on methodically coherent application of reflexive TA.”

For more information about the event, visit the British Academy website, where booking is available to members of the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network.