Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Enhancement Fund 2026 Announcement


By Caroline Mahon

Posted: 3 September, 2026

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The Higher Education Authority (HEA) Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) has today announced the award of €523,335 under the 2026 call of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Enhancement Fund to support equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives in Irish higher education institutions (HEIs).

The HEA launched the inaugural funding call of the EDI Enhancement Fund in 2024 to address the wider policy areas that the HEA and HEIs are addressing in work to advance equality, diversity and inclusion in higher education.

Awards were made across four Priority Areas:

  • Advancing Gender Equality
  • Advancing Race Equality
  • Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment
  • Advancing awareness and understanding of intersectionality and multidimensional approaches to equality, diversity and inclusion

To date, the HEA has awarded €1,544,406 under the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Enhancement Fund to advance equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives in Irish higher education.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD said:

‘Ireland’s success as a knowledge-based economy depends on our ability to attract, support, and develop talent from all backgrounds. The Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Enhancement Fund supports innovative projects that help ensure higher education institutions are environments where all students and staff can participate fully and achieve their potential. By fostering more inclusive and equitable campuses, these initiatives strengthen the quality of teaching, learning, and research, while helping to build the diverse skills and talent pipeline that will support Ireland’s future economic and societal development. I welcome the strong collaborative approach reflected in this year’s projects and commend the institutions involved for their leadership in advancing meaningful change across the sector.’

 

Sheena Duffy, Head of EDI at the Higher Education Authority, added:

 ‘The EDI enhancement Fund enables higher education institutions to collaborate on the advancement of equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives and develop good practice in this important area. The funded projects highlight the higher education sector’s commitment to embedding inclusive institutional cultures that support students and staff.’

Seven projects were funded under the 2026 funding call. The projects address important areas of development for the higher education sector including campaigns and awareness raising, training and capacity building, and supporting sectoral collaboration and networks.

The EDI Enhancement Fund forms part of HEA’s broader strategy and commitment to advancing equality, diversity and inclusion in the Irish higher education sector.

 

HEI Partners Project Title
ATU, University of Galway, TUS, TU Dublin, MIC, MTU, SETU, IADT, DkIT, NCAD, RCSI, UL, TCD, UCD, NCI MEAS – Men, Empathy, Action, and Solidarity Gender Based Violence Prevention Leadership Programme – Phase 2.
DCU, UCD, TCD, SETU, MU, UL The Experience of Family Carers in Higher Education Institutes in the Republic of Ireland: a Study of Staff and Students.
UL, University of Galway, MIC Beyond Silver: Operationalising Intersectionality in Irish Higher Education.
MU, UL, SETU, MTU, TCD, DCU, University of Galway UNSEEN: Understanding Non-promotable Service and its Effects on Early-career Women.
TU Dublin, UCC, MIC Project RISE: Racially Inclusive Senior Leadership in Higher Education – Cantering Lived Experience.
TUS, MU, SETU Engagement by Staff with Informal and Formal Disability Supports in Higher Education: Improving Disclosure by Employees with Disabilities to Improve Access to Supports.
TUS, DCU, MIC Advancing Gender Equality in and Through Sport: A Cross-Institute Initiative for Teaching, Research, and Societal Impact.

 

Further information on projects funded in previous calls can be found on the HEA website.

More: EDI, EDI in University, Funding 2026, HEA Funding, Irish Higher Education Institutions, Minister Lawless