2023-24 News

Nelson Mandela Anti-Racism Week, March 2024

The Office of the Vice-President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion launched Nelson Mandela Anti-Racism Week and the Tom Molineaux Elite Sport Scholarship for ethnic minority students. (Tom Molineaux was born into slavery in 1785 and used his sporting excellence to box his way to freedom from slavery and became an international sports star before he died destitute in Galway in 1818).  The launch began with an opening from President Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh and a keynote by Mr Zak Moradi. Well known for his involvement with GAA, Zak Moradi is a Kurdish, Irish hurler who plays as a left corner-forward for the Leitrim senior team and author of Life Begins in Leitrim. This was then followed by a panel discussion ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Sport’, panellists with lived and professional experience shared their insights, chaired by the Dean of students, Prof Ciara Meehan.

L:R Tianming Yao, PhD student, Malik Thiam, Batchelor of Commerce student, University of Galway President Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Zak Moradi, a Kurdish-Irish hurler and author of Life Begins in Leitrim, Professor Ciara Meehan, University of Galway’s Dean of Students, and Suad Mooge, Youth Leader and Coach, Sports Against Racism Ireland. Credit – Aengus McMahon.

L:R Des Ryan, Tianming Yao, PhD student, Malik Thiam, Batchelor of Commerce student, Professor Ciara Meehan, University of Galway’s Dean of Students, University of Galway President Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Zak Moradi, a Kurdish-Irish hurler and author of Life Begins in Leitrim, Suad Mooge, Youth Leader and Coach, Sports Against Racism Ireland. Dr Helen Maher VP for Equality Diversity and Inclusion, Feargha O' Callaghan High Performance Sports Lead& Owen Ward Programme Manager for Race Equality 

L:R Owen Ward, Merve Deden, Mikey Creane, Gustavo Sambrano, Tina-Karen Pusse, Dinali Wijeratne & Eylul Petek Taneri

EDI Training 2024

The EDI Office have launched a new schedule of training for 2024.

See more details and book your place here

Nelson Mandela Anti-Racism Week March 2024

Nelson Mandela Anti-Racism Week will occur on campus from 19th – 25th March this year. Nelson Mandela’s legacy, courage, and persistence in combating racism and oppression during apartheid and promoting non-racism, non-sexism, peace, and reconciliation in post-apartheid South Africa, is an inspiration to all who envision an equal society. Building on the success of the inaugural Nelson Mandela Anti-Racism Week 2023, the week of events in 2024 aims to raise awareness, promote belonging and align with Nelson Mandela’s vision. Taking this as a starting point, the programme of events also responds to the current geopolitical landscape and the human rights atrocities that we bear witness to in so many parts of the world today. The events are designed to be deliberative and interactive, facilitating discussion, learning and engagement on a wide range of issues relevant to race, ethnicity, anti-racism, human rights and social justice. The programme of events incorporates student and staff-led activities including seminars, training, workshops, exhibitions and cultural events and activities.

Here is the full Nelson Mandela Anti-Racism Week Event Programme  

International Women's Day 8th March 2024-Katriona O' Sullivan

President Ciarán Ó hOgartaigh opened University of Galway’s week of events to mark International Women’s Day 2024. He spoke of the importance of mentorship and support and the pivotal role Higher Education Institutions like University of Galway have in cultivating a culture of inclusion and respect. He also highlighted the University’s plans in relation to positive action measures to increase the number of women in senior positions.

VP for EDI, Dr Helen Maher, interviewed Dr Katriona O’Sullivan author of best-selling memoir Poor. During the interview, Dr Sullivan gave us an insight into her own personal experience of growing up in poverty and how this and how the structures and people around her have impacted her life. Conversations around the impact that educators and authority figures can have on people’s mind-set and self-believe were particularly thought provoking. It was noted that the hashtag for IWD 2024 #InspireInclusion should not be considered as something that is charitable, but should instead be focused on celebration and encouragement. 

L:R President Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Dr Katriona O Sullivan & Dr Helen Maher

Aoife Cooke, Dr Katriona O'Sullivan & Dr Helen Maher

Front: Owen Ward, Niamh Kavanagh, Dr Katriona O'Sullivan, President Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Dr Helen Maher & Niamh Gallagher
Back: Margaret Forde, Dr Laura Loftus & Aoife Cooke

International Women's Day 8th March 2024

The Office of the Vice President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is delighted to invite you to attend a series of events on the week from 4-9 March to celebrate International Women’s Day 2024.

See schedule of events here

Athena Swan-Round Table Discussion for Schools - Jan 9th 2024

The first event of 2024 in the office of the VP for EDI took place on Jan 9th, with a round table discussion (chaired by Dr Laura Loftus) held to celebrate the Athena Swan work currently being carried out across the University of Galway. The event focused on Athena Swan actions being carried out at School level and their impact. Representatives from the schools shared their stories regarding improvements since their last application while also highlighting some of the stumbling blocks encountered and how they hope to overcome these challenges.

Kasia Whysall, Vice Dean for EDI, CMNHS Focus: Creating a targeted approach to implementing CMNHS’ Athena Swan actions

Ananya Gupta, School of Medicine Self Assessment Team Chair Focus: Impact of SoM’s Athena Swan actions/applying for a Silver Athena Swan award

Gerard Molloy, School of Psychology Self Assessment Team Chair Focus: How the SoP’s Athena Swan actions have helped to improve the culture in their School

Edel Doherty, School of Business and Economics Self Assessment Team Chair Focus: Impact of SBE’s Athena Swan actions/applying for a Silver Athena Swan award

Maeve Duffy, School of Engineering Self Assessment Team Chair Focus: Impact of SoE’s Athena Swan actions/achieving a Silver Athena Swan award

Gender Pay Gap Report, 18th Dec 2023

The results of the University’s Gender Pay Gap Report 2023 analysis remain an issue of ongoing concern and priority focus in terms of addressing the imbalance that exists. We have undertaken a detailed assessment and analysis to better understand the multiple causes of the gender pay gap and to determine the necessary actions in response, which are the responsibility of us all at the University.

Dr Helen Maher on Galway Bay FM 9th Nov 2023

Dr Helen Maher talks to Keith Finnegan, Galway Bay FM about the recent launch of the Race Equality Framework and Action Play 2023-27

Podcast: Interview with Dr Helen Maher on Galway Bay FM

Race Equality Framework & Action Plan Launch Nov 7th

The launch of the University of Galway's first Race Equality Framework & Action Plan 2023-2027  took place in tandem with the launch of University of Galway Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Annual Report 2022/23 in the O'Donoghue Theatre on Tuesday, 7th November. 

Launch of the Aurora Alumni Network 14th Nov 2023

The Aurora women’s leadership programme celebrated its ten-year anniversary this year. To mark this momentous occasion, and the fact that over 100 women from University of Galway have now completed the Aurora programme, we launched the University of Galway’s Aurora Alumni Network.

This network will enable University of Galway Aurorans to reconnect with their previous Aurora cohorts and expand their networks to other female leaders who have completed their programme. The network launch was held on Tuesday, 14 November in the Aula Maxima, Quadrangle. The event comprised of a roundtable discussion with past Aurorans focusing on their experiences of the programme and how it has impacted them, followed by an opportunity to network and connect with Aurora Alumni.

The round table discussion was, Chaired by Helen Maher, VP for EDI along with:

• Dr Natalie Walsh, Director of Entrepreneurial Development
• Prof Ciara Meehan, Dean of Students
• Mark McGuinness Manager of University of Galway's mentorship programme
• Dr Oonagh Meade, Lecturer in Transdisciplinary Research with the Designing Futures team and former postdoctoral researcher
• Dr Manuela Heinz, Associate Professor, Head of Discipline of Education

Oct 19th & 20th 2023, Dr Kim Young-McLear delivers the annual Sheehy Skeffington Distinguished Lecture 2023

We welcomed Dr. Kim Young-McLear from the USA an organizational strategist, cybersecurity professional, and professor with more than 25 years of deep expertise within the US federal government, higher education, and community organizing. Dr Kim delivered the lecture at the Annual Sheehy Skeffington Distinguished Lecture 2023. If you would like to find out more about this year’s speaker, please see this short video outlining her experiences as a whistleblower. 

Dr Tom Clonan (Senator) former captain in the Irish Army also joined Dr Kim, speaking about his experience of whistleblowing on Sexual Violence in the Armed Forces. 

Aurora Information Session Aug 11th 2023

Aurora is a women-only leadership development programme provided by Advance HE. It is a unique partnership initiative bringing together leadership experts and higher education institutions to take positive action to address the under-representation of women in leadership positions in the sector. University of Galway provide internal funding each year for a number of employees to attend the programme. 

University of Galway’s Aurora programme is targeted at women in academic, support and research roles in the University – from Postdoctoral up to and including Administrative Officer roles and Lecturer grades - in order to enable leadership potential and provide an opportunity for growth and development.

If you missed out on the information session, see the recording here: Information Session about the Aurora Programme for the 2023/24 academic year (11th Aug 2023)