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Event Overview
As part of Ireland’s hosting of the EU Presidency, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) are delighted to host a two-day conference on inclusive education ‘Shaping an Inclusive and Empowering Higher Education System’ , 29 and 30 October, at South East Technological University (SETU), Carlow Campus.
The European Commission and the European Council’s 2015 joint report on implementing the Education and Training 2020 strategy has established ‘inclusive education, equality, equity, non-discrimination and the promotion of civic competences’ as priority areas for European cooperation in the field of education and training. An inclusive educational approach aims to provide equitable learning opportunities for all, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities and highlights the importance of fostering an environment where every student can participate fully.
The conference will showcase Ireland’s leadership through national policy progression in inclusive education. The event will also bring together leaders, educators, researchers and policy makers from Irish and international higher education to discuss inclusive, safe and empowering environments, inclusive culture and institutional leadership across higher education.
Conference Agenda
Day 1: Thursday 29 October
| Time | Session Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00–11:00 | Registration | Arrival, registration, networking with Tea/ Coffee |
| 11:00–11:30 | Opening Remarks | - Professor Mark Rogers, Chair of the Board, HEA - Professor Harriet Dunbar-Morris, Chief Academic Officer and Deputy President, South East Technological University |
| 11:30–12:30 | Joint Keynote: 'Irish and European Perspectives on Inclusive Higher Education' | - 'European Perspectives': Jade IAFRATE, Policy Officer for Gender Equality, European Commission - 'Irish Perspectives': Dara Ryder, Chief Executive Officer, AHEAD |
| 12:30–1:30 | Lunch | |
| 1:30–2:30 | Session 1: 'Inclusive Environments' | HEA Introduction and Chair, Dr Louise Callinan, Head of Access Policy, HEA - Maja Gustafsson, Policy Analyst, OECD - Dr Ross Woods, Senior Manager for Teaching and Learning, HEA |
| 2:30–2:45 | Comfort Break | |
| 2:45–3.55 | Lightning Talks: 'Inclusive Education' | HEA Introduction + Chair, Tim Conlon, Head of Policy and Strategic Planning, HEA - ‘Tackling Sexual Violence and Harassment is an Equalities and Inclusion Issue’, University of Galway - ‘Equity by Design: Embedding Race, Ethnicity and Ancestry Across the Research Lifecycle’, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - ‘Developing and Implementing Anti-Racism Practice on Student Placements’, Technological University Dublin - ‘From Students to Colleagues: Peer Facilitators as Partners in Inclusive Education’, South East Technological University - ‘Students with Disabilities as Advisors: How AHEAD amplifies and values lived experience’, AHEAD Ireland - ‘Student Perspective on the Implementation of Universal Design for Learning in Higher Education in Ireland’, University of Limerick - ‘Beyond Graduation: Rethinking Disability Inclusion in Higher Education’, Trinity College Dublin - ‘Making Inclusion Everybody’s Business: Leading Institutional Change through Universal Design in Higher Education’, University College Cork |
| 3:55–4:20 | Speak Out Data Launch | Elaine Mears, Coordinator and Gillian Connolly, Administrator, Speak Out National Office |
| 4:20–4:30 | Closing Remarks | Dr Louise Callinan, Head of Access Policy, HEA |
Day 2: Friday 30 October
| Time | Session Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 09:15–09:45 | Arrival and Networking | Informal networking with tea/coffee |
| 09:45–10:00 | Day 2 Welcome | Tim Conlon, Head of Policy and Strategic Planning, HEA |
| 10:00–11:00 | Keynote: 'Diversification of higher education' | Charlotte Armstrong, Policy Manager, Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) |
| 11:00–12:00 | Session 1: 'Inclusive Cultures with a focus on EDI' | Introduction and Chair, Dr Jennie Rothwell, Senior Manager, HEA Centre of EDI - Professor Jörg Müller, Universität Oberta de Catalunya - Assistant Professor Lilian Nwanze, Maynooth University - Marcela Linkova, Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences |
| 12:00–12:20 | Comfort Break | |
| 12:20–13:20 | Session 2: 'Higher Education Leadership Panel' | Introduction and Chair, Sheena Duffy, Head of International, Communications and EDI, HEA - Professor Veronica Campbell, President, South East Technological University - Ninoslav Šćukanec Schmidt, Executive Director, Institute for the Development of Education - Professor Emma Stokes, President, National College of Ireland - Daniel Walsh, President, AMLÉ |
| 13:20–13:30 | Closing Remarks | Sheena Duffy, Head of International, Communications and EDI, HEA |
| 13:30–14:30 | Lunch and networking |
Delegate Information
Location
Barrow Centre (F Block), South East Technological University (SETU), Kilkenny Road Campus, Carlow, R93 V960.
- Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=52.8262099,-6.9362778
Parking Information
- Parking is available on the campus.
How to Get There
By Car: Located on the N80 (Kilkenny Road).
By Train: Carlow Train Station is approximately 2 km away.
By Bus: Regular services connect Carlow with Dublin, Waterford and Kilkenny.
By Air: Direct coach services operate between Dublin Airport and Carlow.
Accommodation
| Hotel | Distance | Telephone |
| Woodford Dolmen Hotel | 1.8 km | 059 914 2002 |
| Talbot Hotel Carlow | 2.2 km | 059 915 3000 |
| Seven Oaks Hotel | 1.6 km | 059 913 1308 |
| Dinn Rí Hotel | 1.1 km | 059 913 3111 |