We are joined by the brilliant Dr Maisha Islam, Doctoral College Research Culture Lead at the University of Southampton, researcher, writer, and advocate for equity, faith inclusion, and racially just research cultures in higher education.

From her early academic journey to leading sector-wide projects on Islamophobia and postgraduate access, Maisha shares candid reflections on:

• Navigating Higher Education as a South Asian woman
• Building an inclusive research culture to create belonging
• Uncovering hidden barriers for Muslim students
• The emotional labour of equity work and how she sustains it
• Why representation is transformational

Maisha is the editor of: Uncovering Islamophobia in Higher Education: Supporting the Success of Muslim Students and Staff

Host: Dr Sayema Rahman Khan, founder of SAWHE

Producer: Sumaiya Motara, SAWHE Digital Communications Lead

About the SAWHE network

This is a grassroots, community-led initiative dedicated to amplifying the visibility, voice, and leadership of South Asian women across UK universities.

We exist so that South Asian women are never alone in their academic journey – offering a safe, inclusive space to connect, be supported, and be celebrated.

Website: https://sawhe.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/south-asian-women-in-higher-education-network/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sawheofficial/?igsh=MWZqOTg5enQ3OTJl#

Join the network here: https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8Gy_HKfUNmdW-HFEh29A3pPOHC8Qe44tdvEoHJGJgx7zn-w/viewform