The Higher Education Authority’s Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) launched the inaugural funding under the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Enhancement Fund on the 3rd of May 2024. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are now invited to submit proposals for funding.

From 2020 to 2023, the Centre ran the Gender Equality Enhancement Fund to encourage innovative approaches to addressing gender inequality across HEIs; to facilitate gender equality initiatives that respond to the recommendations of the HEA National Reviews of Gender Equality in Irish Higher Education Institutions (2016 and 2022) and/or Gender Equality Taskforce’s recommended actions and to encourage cross-sectoral collaboration as a means to achieve national transformation.

In 2024, this fund was expanded to address the wider policy areas that the HEA and HEIs are addressing in work to advance equality, diversity and inclusion in higher education.

Applications for funding under the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Enhancement Fund can be made in four priority areas. The total funding available for each priority area is indicated in .

  •  Advancing gender equality in higher education
  • Ending sexual violence and harassment in higher education
  • Advancing race equality in higher education
  • Advancing awareness and understanding of intersectionality and multi-dimensional approaches to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Funding Call Deadline

The closing date for applications is 12:00pm (noon) on the 5th of July 2024. 

Application Submission

HEIs are invited to submit proposals to the Centre through the Application Form and in line with the requirements set out in the Call for Applications. Proposals should be submitted to via email to EDI@hea.ie no later than 12:00 (noon) on 5th July 2024.

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