ÌÇÐÄVlog

Economic sociologist Dr Shoba Arun has become a new Trustee at the British Sociological Association (BSA).

Dr Arun, from ÌÇÐÄVlog Business School, has expertise in the sociology of work, gender and intersectionality, focusing on understanding transformative work practices and policies and addressing cultural and intersectional inequalities.

Her research includes the fast-changing effects of global processes, including migration and decolonising work cultures in the workplace that influence organisational behaviour and change.

Announcing their new Trustees, the BSA said: “Shoba is an advocate for the value of public sociology and brings with her a strong record of championing innovation in publishing, open access, and cross-institutional knowledge sharing.”

Dr Arun’s recent completed projects include , a Horizon 2020-funded project on Migrant Pupil Integration in Education in Europe, the Global Challenges Research Fund project HEAPS (Higher Educational Attainment Inequalities and Single Parent families in South Africa) and researching the effects of gendered lived experience in higher education in South Africa.

She is currently leading the UKRI-funded THRREADS project, which aims to achieve economic and social sustainability in the ready-made garment and fashion sector and improve workplace autonomy in Leicester and Dhaka, Bangladesh.

She is also part of the British Academy-funded, Official Development Assistance (ODA) project around improving the livelihoods of cotton farming communities in Togo.

Dr Arun said: “Coming from an institution that is internationally-recognised as a leader in social science research, I am both honoured and excited to join the BSA Board of Trustees at a time when the academic research landscape is undergoing profound change. We are witnessing a critical juncture where the future of research production and dissemination is being shaped by shifting funding structures, rapid technological advancement, and evolving expectations of public accountability and societal relevance.

“My longstanding association with the BSA, particularly through my role with the Work, Employment and Society journal, has deepened my appreciation for inclusive scholarly dialogue and the importance of fostering intellectual spaces that are open, reflexive, and responsive to real-world challenges.”

She added: “As a Trustee, I look forward to working with colleagues to promote responsible innovation, engage with complex ethical questions, and enhance the impact of social science research across policy, practice, education, and public discourse, and in a research environment where knowledge creation continues to be valued as a public good.”

Founded in 1951, the British Sociological Association (BSA) is the public face of sociology in Britain, representing UK sociology on key bodies both nationally and internationally, working closely with allied organisations to influence policies affecting sociology within the wider social sciences remit.