News
Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to keep up-to-date with Equality news and events in Trinity. If you're a Trinity student or staff member and you'd like your equality-related event or initiative publicised on the Equality Office social media accounts, just email the details to equality@tcd.ie.
2021/22
April: HEA National Review of Gender Equality in Irish Higher Education Institutions
March: Faculty of Health Sciences EDI Event Series: Queer Mental Health
March: New Times Higher Education UNESCO report features Trinity College Dublin as a case study for gender equality
March: The Stakes of Feminism in Europe - What are the new challanges for a feminist Europe of the future?
March: International Women's Day: #Break The Bias
March: International Women's Day: TBS Speaker on Women in Leadership
February: Breaking Boundaries: A Disabled Postgraduate’s PhD Journey, Seminar Series
January: Trinity-INC Food for Thought Lunchtime Online Seminar Series 2022
December: Ableism in Academia in Ireland: Report Launch & Panel Discussion, December 3rd at 2pm
December: Disability Awareness Week 2021
November: Launch of "Speak Out" tool
November: DUGES Speaker Event: United Nations Sustainable Development (UNSDGG) Goal 5
September: Trinity receives a further 4 Athena SWAN awards
New call for applications for the Preparing for Academic Advancement (PAA) Programme - Deadline for applications Tuesday 7th June 2022
The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Office and Human Resources are delighted to present an invitation for applications to participate in the Preparing for Academic Advancement (PAA) Programme in collaboration with our six national Universities Project Partners. Trinity has a maximum of three places available for participants.
The aim of this Programme is to support women academics at the level of Associate Professors and Professor In, to submit successful applications for Professor In or TCD Professor Of promotions. This programme has been put in place to support the achievement of the Higher Education Authority target of 40% representation of men and women at full professorial level by 2024.
Closing date for applications is 5pm Tuesday 7th June 2022.
Eligibility
This programme is open to women (and those who identify as women) at Associate Professor or Professor In levels who intend to submit an application to Professor In or Professor Of level in future rounds of promotions applications and within the next 2 years.
Course Programme
The PAA programme content includes: explore challenges in professional environments and strategies to optimise success; developing skills to present evidence of the ‘best version’ of achievements against academic promotions criteria. Please visit the programme content here: PAA 2022 Summary Programme Outline
The programme involves 3 modules over 5 workshops, and individual Coaching. Workshops 1 and 2 are on 28 and 29 June. Workshops 3 & 4 on 6 and 8 September, and Workshop 5 on 28 September (time for each workshop is - 9.30am to 1pm). One 90-minute coaching session per person in the period 11 to 22 July will be provided . Applicants must be available and agree to attend all programme dates. Mentoring will also be provided to Programme participants.
Please complete the Expression of Interest Form here. Applications will be assessed by four independent senior academics from the partner institutions with eligibility confirmed by Trinity.
Closing date for applications and submission of Expression of Interest Form is: 5pm Tuesday 7th June 2022. Forms should be emailed to the programme organiser University of Limerick at paa@ul.ie
If you have questions or queries on this programme please contact the Acting Equality Officer at equality@tcd.ie or Head of Learning & Organisation Development at staffdev@tcd.ie
HEA Gender Equality Enhancement Fund (GEEF) call open
The current Higher Education Authority GEEF call for Applications for 2022 is now open and closes at 12 noon on Friday 27 May. You can read more about the current GEEF call on this link: HEA GEEF 2022 Call
Applications for funding under the Gender Equality Enhancement Fund can be made in three areas and the total funding available for each area is indicated in brackets:
1. Research on or advancing gender equality initiatives in Ireland (€100,000)
2. Training programmes specifically addressing gender equality (€100,000)
3. Athena SWAN capacity-building activities (€50,000)
Applications need to be collaborative and involve at least three eligible HEIs, a maximum of €50,000 will be awarded to successful applicants. Each HEI can only lead on one application to this call but can be collaborative partners with other HEIs on additional applications. Proposals for Trinity led and all other collaborator applications to the HEA for this GEEF call must be routed through the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Office.
Completed application forms need to be submitted to the TCD EDI Unit at equality@tcd.ie by Friday 20th May 2022 for review and to allow sufficient time for approval sign off by the Provost.
If you have any queries, please email equality@tcd.ie
Staff in Higher Education: HEI undertakes a second review of gender equality
The HEA is committed to addressing gender inequalities in higher education and to supporting Irish Higher education institutions (HEIs) to create an inclusive culture and environment where individuals are able to thrive, irrespective of gender.
Two policy documents, the 2016 HEA National Review of Gender Equality in Irish Higher Education Institutions and the Gender Action Plan 2018-2020, have been developed in recent years to inform the implementation of a gender equality framework in Irish higher education (HE)
The HEA is now undertaking a Second National Review of Gender Equality in Irish Higher Education Institutions, to assess the progress made since the 2016 Review and the perception of gender equality among HEI staff and make recommendations to ensure the continued advancement of gender equality in the higher education sector. The review is specifically focussed on staff in higher education. Staff can participate in the review through an online consultation here.
Trinity Faculty of Health Sciences EDI Group - Event series: Queer Mental Health
The TCD Faculty of Health Sciences Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Group seeks to harness the interest and enthusiasm of those with a willingness to get involved in creating more visibility around EDI in Health Sciences. In 2022, the Faculty EDI Group is working with a number of staff members from across the Faculty to bring Visiting Professors to Trinity to deliver an EDI event series on topics like racism and bias in health sciences education, accessibility, inclusion and action in medical education, breastfeeding supports, medicine and gender, queer mental health, and much much more.
On 31st March and 1st April, Aaron Koay (he/him), student co-chair of the TCD Faculty of Health Sciences EDI Group, will be hosting Dr Brendan J Dunlop (he/him) from the University of Manchester to deliver various sessions on the topic of Queer Mental Health. This is the first event of the TCD Faculty of Health Sciences EDI event series. We have organised the following free activities for students and staff in Trinity; please find attached the posters and click the relevant Eventbrite link for further details:
Public lecture - 'The Impact of Systems, Structures and Stories on LGBTQ+ Mental Health: The Queer Mental Health Workbook' (31st March, 5 to 6 pm): https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/293071694327
Mental health practitioner workshop in collaboration with the Student Counselling Services - 'Clinical Formulation for Mental Health Challenges in Queer People' (1st April, 1 to 2.30 pm): https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/291212794307
Student seminar in collaboration with Nerilee Ceatha (she/they) & QSoc - 'Queering Mental Health: Resilience in Unsupportive Systems' (1st April, 5 to 6.30 pm): https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/293118805237
New Times Higher Education UNESCO report features Trinity College Dublin as a case study for gender equality
On International Women’s Day 8 March 2022 the THE (Times Higher Education) UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC) report, Gender Equality: How global universities are performing was launched. The report used data submitted by over 750 universities across the world relating to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal focusing on gender equality (SDG 5). As one of only five global case studies contained in the Report Trinity’s work on gender equality is featured and in particular work related to the achievement of Trinity’s Athena SWAN Awards. The current Trinity Strategic Plan for 2020 to 2025 is highlighted in the case study as well as the election of the first female Provost for Trinity in 2021.
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal focusing on gender equality (SDG 5) is also examined and ranked by THE. These rankings were also released by THE on 8 March and Trinity is in the top ten universities globally, placing 6th in the world.
- Click here for a PDF of the Gender Equality report
- See here to read more about the report
- To read about UNSDG 5 and Trinity click here
#Break the Bias: online panel discussion, 8th March at 10.30am via zoom
Please register in advance for this zoom webinar:
https://tcd-ie.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JTDaBWpBSima8-CC7imqmQ
Read more here
The Stakes of Feminism in Europe - what are the new challanges for a feminist Europe of the future?
This International Women’s Day event, jointly organised by the French Embassy in Ireland, which holds the Presidency of the EU council, the Goethe-Institute Ireland and the German Embassy in Ireland as well as Trinity College Dublin will welcome distinguished panellists, Mary Robinson, Laure Adler, and Emilia Roig for a conversation on the new stakes of feminism in Europe.
In many countries, the feminist mobilisation of recent years has led to massive progress: in Ireland, abortion has been decriminalised and in France, medically assisted reproduction is open to all women After MeToo, the time has come for women to recognise their power through sisterhood, solidarity and recognition, not only from other women, but also from men.
Three women who have always been committed to the causes of women in Ireland, France, and Germany will assess whether our diverse challenges should lead us to rephrase the demands of European feminists based on:
• Gender equality and economic recovery in the challenge of climate change
• Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and rule of law
• Fight against sexual and gender-based violence
• Convergences between intersectional and universalist approaches to feminism
Opening remarks by Linda Doyle, Provost of Trinity College Dublin and H.E. Vincent Guérend, French Ambassador to Ireland.
This panel discussion, moderated by Dr Catherine Lawless, Director, Centre for Gender and Women's Studies, School of Histories and Humanities University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, will take place in the Dargan Theatre, Trinity College’s Business School, Dublin 2, D02 VR66.
Breaking Boundaries: A Disabled Postgraduate’s PhD journey
This exciting webinar series is supported by the Postgrad Community and Wellbeing fund and organised by TCD Forum for Disabled Staff and Postgraduate Students, GSU Disability Rights Officer and Trinity Ability co_op.
This series of seminars will hear from six leading academics who will share their experiences of completing postgraduate research. They will focus on their research, their research journeys, along with their strategies for success.
These talks are open to all and we welcome guests from all colleges. It would be of interest to disabled people considering postgraduate study or staff in higher education interested in understanding the barriers facing postgraduate researchers.
Trinity-INC's Inaugural "Food for Thought" Lunchtime Seminar with Dr Aminul Hoque MBE. Friday 4th February, 2022, 1pm-2pm
"Do we really know who our students are? Understanding, implementing and embedding a culturally responsive pedagogy in our everyday practice"
In this seminar, Aminul will explore and unpack the concept of a culturally responsive pedagogy and locate it within the equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) narrative. Three key questions will underpin Aminul's talk. Firstly, do we really know who our students are? Secondly, are we aware of the wider social, community and cultural issues that many of our students are living through? And finally, how do we get to know our students and ensure that their views, interests, lived experiences, aspirations inform and guide our pedagogical practices? Drawing on his own ethnographic research with young Bangladeshis from London and his anti-racist work with the National Education Union, Aminul will outline and provide insight to some of the lived experiences of exclusion and alienation that many BAME students from disadvantaged backgrounds live through. While he will argue that these areas of disparity and disadvantage have become even more problematic during the Covid-19 pandemic, he will also suggest some practical ways that educators can ensure that such students remain engaged and enthused in the higher education journey.
More information here
Follow Aminul on Twitter @BrIslam2015
Ableism in Academia in Ireland: Report Launch & Panel Discussion - Friday 3rd December
Following on from the very successful "Ableism in Academia in Ireland" seminar in August 2021, and as part of the wider College celebration of International Day for Person's with Disabilities, Trinity College Dublin's Forum for Disabled Staff and Postgraduate Students hosted a Panel Discussion and launched a report from the seminar titled "Ableism in Academia Ireland".
The report is based on the output from the August seminar and highlights the many barriers faced by disabled people in academia in Ireland. It also presents recommendations for the future. At the launch, a these recommendations were discussed by a panel of disabled academics, activists and other experts on equality, diversity and inclusion.
The report is available to read and download here: Ableism in Academia in Ireland 2021
Launch of "Speak Out" tool - 30th November 2021
Speak Out provides the opportunity for you to make the University aware of incidents that you have either experienced or witnessed by reporting them anonymously. The trauma-informed tool collects information anonymously about incidents of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct. The University will use this information to inform the development and delivery of activities aimed at raising awareness about Trinity’s Dignity and Respect Policy (PDF) and other initiatives (PDF) in support of eliminating bullying, harassment, and sexual misconduct.
Learn more about the Speak Out tool: Speak Out Tool
Disability Awareness Week 2021 - Events
Trinity College will celebrate Disability Awareness Week from November 29th to December 3rd 2021, with events involving the Students' Union, Ability Coop, the Disability Research Network and Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities. See the full calendar of events here.
DUGES Speaker event, Thursday 25th November, 18:00 - Dr Siobán O'Brien Green discusses United Nations Sustainable Development (UNSDGG) Goal 5
DUGES is delighted to welcome Dr. Siobán O’Brien Green in their first speaker event of the year.
As part of activities highlighting 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Dr O’Brien Green will give a presentation examining the United Nations Sustainable Development (UNSDGG) Goal 5 with a focus on aspects of Goal targets 5.2 "Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation" and 5.3 "Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM)".
Read more and register via Eventbrite hereAthena SWAN Ireland Award ceremony, October 20th 2021
12 Trinity schools recieved their awards in an online ceremony hosted by Advance HE. The proceedings can be watched here
Women Who Wow: mentorship programme enters its fifth year
Women Who Wow is a mentorship programme aimed at female Trinity students who are interested in setting up their own business or social venture one day. Founded with support from the Equality Fund in 2016, Women Who Wow is now in its fifth year of operation.
Women Who Wow was founded with the aim of achieving gender balance in entrepreneurship-focussed programmes and work continues towards a goal of 50:50 gender participation on their programmes.
Women Who Wow aims to match interested female students with an experienced, accessible mentor who can help and advise along the entrepreneurship journey – and beyond. Previous companies who have gotten involved with Women Who Wow include Twitter HQ, Web Summit, Huckletree, Atlantic Bridge, ConsenSys, Intel, Dogpatch Labs, Frontline Ventures, Enterprise Ireland, and more.
The programme will launch at the end of November for mentors and students who’ve received a place, and they are delighted to welcome back alumni of the programme who are now acting as mentors having graduated from Trinity. Some of these alumni went from Women Who Wow into Tangent’s Accelerator, LaunchBox, and are still leading their startups today; others worked with mentors from specific companies in Dublin, and have now started working there themselves.
If you are interested in finding out more about Women Who Wow, you can do so here
The Trinity-INC Summer Student Partners share their experiences of inclusion and exclusion within the curriculum at Trinity
Over the Summer of 2021, 18 students from across all Trinity faculties, at UG, PG and PhD level, came together for the Trinity-INC Summer Student Partner Programme to explore their experience of inclusion and exclusion within the curriculum at Trinity College Dublin. We asked them: What do you want Trinity educators to know about your experience? They responded with posters, presentations, podcasts, personal reflections and philosophical arguments, among other formats. In September, the students ran a public webinar as well as a seminar with Trinity teaching and learning staff to share and discuss these insights. The materials will be used within Trinity-INC training, and are available here
Trinity’s commitment to gender equality recognised by four new Athena SWAN bronze awards
Four Schools at Trinity College Dublin have secured Athena SWAN Bronze awards in the latest round of awards to recognise commitment and work towards gender equality.
Trinity’s School of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Trinity Business School, the School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences, and the School of Biochemistry and Immunology - join ten previous Athena Swan awardees, bringing the University’s total to 14 Bronze Award holders. Their success represents an important further step in Trinity’s ongoing progress towards applying for an institutional Silver award and demonstrates the work and commitment taking place on gender equality across Trinty.
Professor Lorraine Leeson, the incoming Associate Vice Provost for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion welcomed the news of these four awards and stated: "Athena Swan awards are an important mark of recognition of the effort, time and energy that Schools have made engaging with the Athena Swan process and through the award application itself- all related to gender equality and our commitment to a College that promotes and values equality. Sincere congratulations to the four Schools on their awards and sincere appreciation to all those who worked together to achieve them."
For more information on Athena SWAN visit http://www.advance-he.ac.uk/
Urgent appeal to European Governments and EU institutions, on behalf of Afghanistan's scholars, students and civil society actors
Higher education associations, networks, and leaders in the field of scholar protection, urge European governments and EU institutions to take immediate action to secure the lives and careers of Afghanistan's scholars, students, and civil society actors. The appeal is now endorsed by 50 higher education networks, associations and organisations, with signatures still being added. It is live on SAR's website here
Scholars at Risk is an international network of over 500 higher education institutions in 40 countries, including over 350 in Europe, whose core mission is to protect threatened scholars and intellectuals, principally by arranging temporary positions at network-member institutions for those who are unable to work safely in their home countries.