The SOAS Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) is a £1.25 million initiative funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) from 2023-2028. We work to transform research into real-world change for communities affected by migration, displacement, minorities and marginalisation.
Co-managed by the Centre for Migration and Diaspora Studies and the Research and Knowledge Exchange Directorate, we bridge the gap between academic research and practical impact through innovative partnerships and collaborative approaches.
Our Approach
- Engage communities through creative and accessible method
- Foster cross-sector collaboration between researchers, policymakers and practitioners
- Support knowledge exchange through grants, fellowships and events
- Build capacity for impact-focused research
Our Programmes
Mobility Programme
IAA
Mobility Programme Fellowships and Placements Short-term, high-impact knowledge exchange opportunities with leading organisations. We facilitate… View
Impact Projects
IAA
Impact Projects The SOAS Impact Acceleration Account funds impact projects that turns research into real-world… View
Global Roundtables
IAA
Global Roundtables Cross-Sector Knowledge Exchange Thematic roundtables bring together academics, policymakers, practitioners, and advocates to… View
Latest Blogs & Events
Beyond repatriation: Building value through community spaces
IAA News
Repatriation is shifting from returning objects to restoring relationships, as seen in the Gónô Tmutul Storytelling Festival, which fosters cultural continuity and community empowerment. Many scholars and activists refer to… Read more
Reclaiming your digital space: Encouraging open-source thinking in an age of tech monopolies
CMDS News
Tech giants dominate our digital world, but their monopolistic grip isn’t inevitable. In this blog, Taylor D.H. Rockhill explores how we can push back so the future of technology is… Read more
Storying Somalia: The transformative power of creativity after war
CMDS News
Somali writers and artists use narratives to navigate displacement, reclaim fragmented histories, and reimagine the future, as showcased in a recent SOAS roundtable. Human beings like to tell stories. We… Read more