The award follows Asha’s extensive track record in driving strategic, sector-wide change. Her milestone achievement reflects a career dedicated to moving beyond traditional administrative leadership toward a more strategic, holistic, student-centred model of academic excellence.
A core focus of Dr Akram’s fellowship is her work in curriculum and assessment innovation. By leading large-scale programmes across multiple disciplines, she has championed the strategic repositioning of curriculum coherence and the integration of employability skills.
During the COVID-19 pandemic Dr Akram demonstrated exceptional agility by driving faculty-wide assessment modifications. This move to open-book examinations and coursework provided the essential scaffolding needed to reassure students during a period of unprecedented global instability.
Beyond the curriculum, Dr Akram has been a leader in elevating the student experience. As the Faculty Student Voice Lead, she has driven structural and cultural shifts that have redefined how our faculty and institution engage with their learners. Her work ensures that the student perspective is not merely a feedback metric but a primary driver of institutional evolution.
The scale of Dr Akram’s impact is perhaps most visible in her work with the Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Doctoral Education (YCEDE). As a Workstream Lead, she has directly influenced practices across five major universities, leading cross-institutional mentoring programmes and PGR-led workshops via the Inclusive Research Network, which has over 800 members globally.
“I am both delighted and immensely proud to receive this recognition. Achieving PFHEA is a significant milestone that honours my sustained, strategic leadership in education which has positively impacted student experience across the institution and sector. This is also a reflection of the brilliant colleagues and inspiring students I have the privilege of working with. A special thanks goes to Tim Herrick, John Flint, Louise Robson, Peter Mylon, Sam Nolan and Dave Forest for their championing and generous leadership. Particular thanks also to Sarah Moore from the Elevate team, for the clear guidance and moral support.” Dr Asha Akram
Dr Akram is expanding her impact through the NERC-funded CAREERS initiative. This project provides important support for racially minoritised students, bridging the gap from undergraduate study to the highest levels of postgraduate research. Her ongoing consultancy with the EDI Research Centre at the University of York and the NEON PGR Diversity Group further solidifies her role as a key architect of a more equitable academic future.
As the sector moves toward a more inclusive and strategically aligned future, the work of Principal Fellows like Dr Akram remains at the heart of the solution - fostering an environment where academic success and social equity are inextricably linked.