Dr Yaz Iyabo Osho
Reader in Education · Director of Academic Professional Development
Research, writing and academic development focused on equity, belonging and change in higher education.
I am a Reader in Education, Director of Academic Professional Development, researcher, writer and founder. My work connects evidence with practical change — particularly in relation to Black academics and students, inclusive practice, professional learning and the structures that shape who is able to belong and progress in higher education.
Forthcoming · October 2026 · currently editing
How to Embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Business School
Beyond EDI through Anti-Racist and Decolonial Practice
Edited by Yaz Iyabo Osho and published by Edward Elgar in October 2026, this collection brings together practical, critical and evidence-informed approaches to embedding EDI, anti-racist practice and decolonial thinking within business schools and beyond.
Research
My research asks how higher education structures, relationships and practices shape people’s experiences of belonging, opportunity and progression — and what institutions can do differently.
Current study · Ongoing
Black scholars: line management, promotion and opportunity
An ongoing study exploring the interpersonal and structural conditions that influence Black academics’ progression.
This research directly informs my work as Director of Academic Professional Development — research-informed leadership and development focused on academic practice, educational leadership, assessment and institutional change.
Writing
Peer-reviewed scholarship and sector writing that connect lived experience, evidence and practical action in higher education.
Negotiated spaces: Black women academics’ experiences in UK universities
Reclaiming peer observation as a compassionate community practice
Founder-led work
Founder-led initiatives
Alongside my research and institutional work, I have founded spaces that respond to gaps in visibility, connection and support across higher education.
Shining a Light on Black Academics
Holding the Space
I founded Holding the Space: Shining a Light on Black Academics in 2025 in response to the need for sustained, Black-led space for scholarship, lived experience, connection and institutional responsibility.
It has grown from an annual cross-institutional conference into a wider platform for Black academic scholarship, belonging, visibility, progression, care and change.
Global Ethnic Majority Women in Academia network
GEMWA
The Global Ethnic Majority Women in Academia network (GEMWA) was founded to support connection, visibility and mutual support among racially minoritised women working in academia.
I contribute to conferences, panels, workshops, research collaborations and sector conversations on equity, academic practice and change in higher education. Work with Yaz →