Centre of Excellence for EDI – News and Publications

2023

• Anti-racism Principles for Irish Higher Education Institutions – 20^th March 2023

The Anti-Racism Principles for Irish Higher Education Institutions were officially launched on 20^th March 2023. The Centre of Excellence have visited HEIs nationwide to facilitate the signing of the Anti-Racism Principles. As of March 2024, 20 HEIs have signed and endorsed these important Principles. The Principles are a key action in the HEA’s Race Equality Implementation Plan 2022-2024. Further information on the Anti-Racism Principles can be found here.

 

• HEA National Race Equality Conference – 20^th March 2023

The first HEA National Race Equality Conference was hosted by the University of Galway on the 20^th of March 2023. This one-day conference was held in order to highlight the structural, institutional, and historical dimensions of racism which have informed past and current practice in HEIs and the societies in which they are situated. The Anti-Racism Principles for Irish Higher Education Institutions were officially launched at the conference. Further information on the conference can be found here.

2022

• Evidence to Action: Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in HEIs conference – 8^th December 2022

The Evidence to Action conference was hosted by the Higher Education Authority’s Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion on 8^th December 2022 in the Croke Park Conference Centre in Dublin.

The purpose of the conference was to showcase the latest evidence and good practice ongoing across the sector, to share learning and to discuss future priorities and approaches in the context of the findings of recent surveys and the launch of the Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Higher Education Institutions Implementation Plan, 2022-2024 (ESVH Implementation Plan).

A report detailing the day, including speakers and panels discussions, can be found here.

 

• Second HEA National Review of Gender Equality in Irish Higher Education – 12^th November 2022

The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, launched the Higher Education Authority’s Second National Review of Gender Equality in Irish Higher Education. The review commenced in March 2022 and was carried out by a six-person Expert Group, chaired by Niamh O’Donoghue, former Secretary General of the Department of Social Protection, and consisted of national and international members with expertise and experience in the area of gender equality.

HEA CEO Dr Alan Wall said, ‘This report consolidates the work that began in 2016 and sets a clear pathway to gender equality in Irish higher education. The HEA looks forward to working with institutions to ensure that Ireland stays at the cutting edge of the European Research Area’s priority action to promote gender equality and foster inclusiveness in the research and innovation system across Europe.’

You can find out more about the Review here.

 

• Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Higher Education Institutions Implementation Plan 2022-2024 – 13^th October 2022

The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, has today launched the Higher Education Authority’s new plan to address sexual violence and harassment in higher education institutions.

The plan responds directly to the recommendations that emerged from the national surveys of student and staff experiences of sexual violence and harassment in higher education, conducted by the HEA in 2021. It was developed in collaboration with the HEA’s expert Advisory Group on Ending Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment in HEIs.

The ambitious plan represents a holistic and multifaceted response to the survey findings through the inclusion of nineteen actions, to be delivered at institutional and national level, by key stakeholders between now and the end of 2024.

 

• Race Equality Implementation Plan – 8^th September 2022

In 2021, the HEA ran the first National Race Equality Survey of all HEIs, the findings of same were included in the Race Equality Report which was published in October 2021. The aim of the survey was to capture the lived experience of HEI staff in relation to race equality. In line with the publication of the Report and following a period of consultation with stakeholders, including the National Athena Swan Intersectionality Working Group, the HEA launched the Race Equality Implementation Plan 2022-2024 in September 2022. To find out more about this work, please see here.