Henley Business School secures major research and innovation grant to empower women in AI

Henley has been awarded a prestigious £76,680 grant through the British Council’s International Research Empowerment Programme (IREP), part of the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF), supported by the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

This international collaboration, led by Associate Professor Selin Kudret, brings together partners from the UK and Turkey to support the advancement of women in artificial intelligence research. The project will foster academic and professional growth for female AI researchers in Turkey by strengthening leadership capacity, building inclusive knowledge networks, and promoting gender-responsive innovation practices.

Artificial intelligence will shape every sector of society, yet women remain dramatically under-represented globally in decision-making and leadership positions in the field. This project attacks that gap on three fronts:

1. Igniting ambition: A world-class, evidence-based Leadership Capacity Development Programme led by Dr Selin Kudret gives a select group of female AI researchers the cutting-edge leadership training.
2. Equipping talent: A new one-to-one mentoring network pairs each researcher with an experienced professional, providing personalised guidance over a year.
3. Elevating impact: The research team will co-create an open-access, evidence-based Inclusive AI Leadership Toolkit that organisations worldwide can adopt.

The programme runs from May 2025 until October 2026, and advances United Nation’s SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work & Growth) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure), positioning both nations as pace-setters for responsible, inclusive technology. Henley Business School is proud to lead this timely initiative in partnership with Koç University, Thames Valley AI, MOKA Financial Technologies, and Middle East Technical University’s Gender and Women’s Studies Department.

Dr Selin Kudret, the Lead Investigator of the grant and researcher in organisational psychology, stated: “AI will only reach its potential when it reflects every voice. By fusing rigorous organisational-psychology research with world-class leadership development training, our project will open doors for female AI researchers to step into decision-making and leadership roles across the globe, shaping a smarter, fairer future for our societies.”

Acknowledgement of Funding:

This research is supported by the British Council’s International Research Empowerment Programme, as part of the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF). The ISPF puts research and innovation at the heart of our international relationships, supporting UK researchers and innovators to work with peers around the world on the major themes of our time: planet, health, tech and talent.