Trans EDU

Supporting trans, non-binary & gender diverse people in Education and Research

Thanks for visiting TransEDU!

TransEDU is an evolving research and knowledge exchange programme dedicated to understanding and improving the experiences of trans, non-binary and gender diverse people across further education, higher education and the wider research and innovation sector.

Based at the University of Strathclyde, TransEDU provides evidence-based guidance, sector resources and research informed insights for institutions, staff, students and the wider research community.

Through close collaboration with researchers, institutions and sector partners, TransEDU seeks to build more inclusive educational and research environments, strengthen collaborative practice and ensure that trans, non-binary and gender diverse people can thrive at every stage of their educational and research journeys.

View the TransEDU R&I Report 2026 and TransEDU Scotland 2017 Report

including the research findings and recommendations (PDF format)

About TransEDU

TransEDU Scotland: Experiences of Trans and Non-Binary People in Further and Higher Education (2016–2018)

Between 2016 and 2018, Dr Stephanie McKendry and Dr Matson Lawrence at the University of Strathclyde led TransEDU Scotland, a study exploring the experiences of trans, non‑binary and gender diverse applicants, students and staff in colleges and universities across Scotland. Funded by the Scottish Funding Council and supported by the University of Strathclyde, the project identified significant systemic barriers and informed the development of sector‑wide resources and guidance.

Since then, the team has produced open‑access resources, guidance, and training materials and established the TransEDU website (www.trans.ac.uk) as a central resource for supporting trans, non-binary and gender diverse people in post‑secondary education. Further development was supported by the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education.

TransEDU in UK R&I: Trans & Non‑Binary Researchers (2025–2026)

In 2025, Dr Stephanie McKendry, Dr Matson Lawrence and Dr Sidonie Ecochard expanded TransEDU to examine the experiences of trans, non‑binary and gender diverse researchers across the UK’s research and innovation sector. The project ran across 2025–2026 as part of Cultures of Collaboration, a programme supported by the Wellcome Trust through the Inclusive and Collaborative Research Cultures funding call at the University of Strathclyde.

The research identified key barriers relating to mobility, visibility, safety and institutional consistency, shaped by the current political, legal and media climate. Despite these pressures, participants demonstrated resilience and adaptability, highlighting both the challenges faced by gender diverse researchers and the need for proactive institutional action to build safer and more inclusive research environments. The full report is available online, and further outputs will continue to be released.