Loughborough University Research Staff Association
LURSA
A collective voice advocating for fair treatment, inclusive culture, and positive change for research staff.
About LURSA
LURSA (Loughborough University Research Staff Association) is a staff network and representative voice for research staff at Loughborough University. Our primary role is advocacy. We work to ensure that the experiences, concerns and interests of research staff are heard, understood and reflected in University policy and practice.
Research staff play a vital role in the University’s research success, yet many are employed on fixed‑term or externally funded contracts and experience uncertainty around progression, security and recognition. LURSA champions fair employment, equality, diversity and inclusion, and effective support for researchers’ professional and career development.
The University has made commitments to research staff through the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. LURSA plays an important role in holding the University to account for these commitments and supporting their translation into meaningful, real‑world improvements for research staff.
Our approach
Individual researchers can have limited opportunity to influence the policies and practices that shape their working lives. LURSA exists to provide a collective voice, ensuring that concerns are raised appropriately and that research staff perspectives contribute to positive change.
Two elected representatives from each of Loughborough’s nine Schools consult with their colleagues and raise issues affecting research staff. These are considered collectively to identify patterns, inequities or exclusionary practices and to support fair, consistent approaches across the University.
LURSA works through established University governance structures to influence policy and practice. We engage with the Research and Innovation Committee (R&IC) and other relevant committees and working groups, providing advice, making proposals and contributing evidence‑based research staff perspectives.
Who represents me?
You can find the current LURSA representatives for each School on Teams.
Terms of reference
- To act as a collective and representative voice for research staff, championing their personal, professional and career development needs.
- To nurture research staff communities and promote a positive, inclusive and supportive research culture.
- To promote equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing within the research staff community.
- To hold the University to account for the effective implementation of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers.
- To report to and advise the Research and Innovation Committee (R&IC).
- To advise and make proposals to other relevant committees to inform and influence University policy and practice.
- To coordinate with other University committees on matters of mutual interest.
- To receive and consider reports on matters of significance affecting research staff from Schools and other units.
- To support University-level subcommittees, working groups and task-and-finish groups as required.
- To signpost research staff to internal University support and services where available. Where gaps are identified, to co‑produce additional provision with relevant parts of the University.
- To engage with and contribute to regional, national and international research staff networks, including UKRSA.