Returning to the Institute of Advanced Studies at Loughborough University as a Residential Fellow from April 1–30 felt less like arriving at a new destination and more like coming home. Eighteen years earlier, I had studied at the Loughborough University Business School for an MSc. in International Management and walking once again through the familiar pathways of campus brought with it a flood of memories, reflections, and gratitude.

Because my fellowship coincided with the Easter break, the campus carried a quiet rhythm that allowed space for introspection. I found myself retracing old routes and revisiting spaces that had once shaped my intellectual journey. One particularly emotional moment was realizing that the IAS International House stood along the same path leading to Pilkington Library, a place where I had spent countless hours during my student days in 2007–2008. Despite the years that had passed, locating it felt instinctive, as though memory itself had preserved the route.

What distinguished this fellowship experience most profoundly was the exceptional care and intentionality embedded in every aspect of the IAS experience. From travel arrangements to arrival logistics, everything was handled with remarkable professionalism and warmth. I often joked that I was treated like royalty, but truly, it was the thoughtful attention to detail that stayed with me. The welcome card, the chocolates thoughtfully prepared for my daughters, the warmth of the accommodation arranged for my family and I. Every gesture communicated hospitality, care, and belonging.

The accommodation itself was excellent: comfortable, peaceful, and thoughtfully equipped to support both family life and scholarly work. Its close proximity to the IAS International House created an environment where creative thought could flow freely, unhindered by distraction. It quickly became clear why the IAS has earned such a strong reputation for fostering interdisciplinary exchange and academic collaboration.

The fellowship also provided invaluable opportunities for research engagement. Presenting my work during a postgraduate researcher workshop and later at a seminar created meaningful platforms for dialogue, critique, and collaboration. What impressed me deeply was the IAS commitment to ensuring that collaborators and mentors were present and actively involved in these engagements. Within just one month, I met several times with colleagues and mentors across the School of Design and Creative Arts and the Department of Computer Science, distinguished colleagues like Dr. Robert Harland, Dr. Sara Saravi and Dr. Firat Batmaz. These interactions have since evolved into ongoing online meetings around our collaborative research project, demonstrating the lasting impact of the networks cultivated during the fellowship.

Beyond formal academic engagements, the fellowship offered moments of rediscovery and renewal. I appreciated the formal tour of the library, which reintroduced me to resources and spaces that continue to support scholarly excellence. Attending the joint inaugural lecture of Professors Oli Buckeley and Jennifer Fry was equally inspiring, highlighting the richness of intellectual life at Loughborough. I was also grateful for the campus tour by Will that allowed me to reconnect with the university while discovering new developments and spaces that had emerged since my last visit nearly two decades ago. On one of my walks around campus, I ran into printmaker and painter Pamela Clarkson Kwami, the wife of the legendary Ghanaian artist Atta Kwami whose Gateway to the Sea sculptural installation was on display outside Martin Hall. She was restoring Atta’s works with a dear friend and colleague Andy Philpott who incidentally graduated from Loughborough University. I interviewed both of them and learnt more intimately about Atta Kwami’s life. This was the privilege that the IAS residential fellowship afforded me.

Above all, what made the experience extraordinary was the people. Everyone I encountered, the staff, faculty, researchers, and collaborators all demonstrated genuine commitment to ensuring my comfort, wellbeing, and productivity throughout the fellowship. There was an unmistakable culture of care, generosity, and intellectual openness.

The IAS at Loughborough University is more than a research institute; it is a dynamic hub for interdisciplinary thinking, international collaboration, and intellectual transformation. It is a space that encourages scholars not only to learn, but also to unlearn and relearn. There is always something to gain from the IAS experience whether new ideas, new collaborations, or new ways of seeing the world.

For me, this fellowship was not simply an academic residency. It was a meaningful return to a place that once shaped my journey and continues to inspire new possibilities for research, creativity, and global collaboration.

Dr Ashley Ajumoke Stewart