Events

Coaching the Gap: Supporting global majority students to thrive and succeed through personalised coaching approaches

Date: 24th March 2026

Location: Online

In this Student and Staff Race and Ethnic Equity (SsREE) working group event Dr Syra Shakir will give an overview of racialised student experiences in higher education, focusing on key insights, structural inequalities and priorities for equity across different ethnic groups. She will share good practice insights around coaching BAME students, from an intervention called Coaching the Gap at Leeds Trinity University. Across 2024-2025, the initiative received external funding from both a community mental health organisation and TASO, and commissioned a grassroots organisation called Flourished Minds to work with students alongside LTU. She will give an overview of the project including a summary of research findings, outcomes, and also next steps, and provide some lessons learned and good practice insights with advice for other institutions considering using coaching to support BAME students.

This event will run from 13:30 - 15:00

Dr Syra Shakir, Leeds Trinity University

Dr Syra Shakir is an Associate Professor in Learning and Teaching and Strategic Lead on Race Equity at Leeds Trinity University. Syra co-chairs the Leeds Learning Alliance Equity Network and is a convenor for the Race and Ethnicity study group for the British Sociological Association. Syra works on embedding race equity in the curriculum, decolonisation, anti-racist pedagogy, and co-creation with students to build belonging. Syra designs and delivers a range of training on anti-racism and race equity to universities, organisations, and schools. Syra engages in research and practice around co-creation, critical race theory, critical theories in education, anti-racism, social justice, and community activism. Syra is also a qualified social worker and registered with Social Work England.

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