UK-Brazil Collaborative Workshop Explores Parenthood Policies Across UK Higher Education

A pioneering hybrid workshop held this week brought together researchers, university staff, and policymakers to explore parenthood policy initiatives across UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

The event marked a significant milestone in a collaborative project between the UK and Brazil, funded by the British Council, aimed at advancing inclusive and supportive environments for parents in academia.

Hosted online, the workshop focused on presenting preliminary findings from a comprehensive mapping of parenthood policies and activities mapped across twenty UK universities. Dr. Charikleia Tzanakou, the UK Principal Investigator, shared insights into how universities are supporting staff who are parents, highlighting a broad range of initiatives—from structural arrangements to flexible work provisions and enhanced parental leave policies to reproductive health and wellbeing.

This presentation was complemented by an institutional case study from Professor Rachel Cowen and Dr. Perpetual Idehen from the University of Manchester. They outlined their “Future Families” project—an innovative programme aimed at embedding family-friendly practices into the fabric of university culture. 

These findings revealed not only varied levels of engagement across institutions but also a growing recognition of the need for systemic support for academic parents. The workshop created a safe space for participants to discuss challenges and concerns of parenthood initiatives raising the importance of ensuring that parenthood policies are intersectional, accessible, and sustainable in the long term.

Dr Fernanda Stanicsuacki, the Brazilian Principal Investigator also shared how these findings compare to the Brazilian context where similar initiatives have been scarce. Attendees exchanged ideas on what a supportive institutional culture for parents should look like, emphasizing co-creation with staff, policy transparency, and international collaboration.

This event underscores the value of global cooperation in tackling complex social issues within education and sets the stage for meaningful policy evolution in both countries.