Irish Universities Association’s Post

Universities have been integral to the world’s progress towards equality, but now, particularly in the US, some aspects of that work are under attack. Equity, diversity and inclusion staff in US higher education are losing their jobs in the wake of anti-EDI laws, but college leaders are mobilising. THE’s Impact Rankings measures universities’ efforts to tackle the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and two of them: SDG 5 - gender equality and SDG 10 - reduced inequalities ask universities to provide evidence of various measures relating to student access, women’s progress and discrimination, including, for SDG 10, the existence of a diversity and equality committee, office or officer. Find out more about how EDI is under attack in the US in THE rankings reporter’s Rosa Ellis’s feature article here: https://bit.ly/4eaeuaK Watch out for THE’s Impact Rankings 2024, which will be released in five days – Wednesday 12 June.    Participate in THE’s Impact Rankings 2025: https://bit.ly/3KVcNB5  

Need EDI training for your school? This is the course for you 👇 #inclusion #schools #education #equality #diversity

This weekend I attended the Conversations Tocqueville, Tocqueville Foundation. I enjoyed immersing myself in the former home of Alexis Tocqueville, author of Democracy in America, which presented democracy as a balance between liberty and equality, concerning both individual citizens and their broader society. However, I was rather disappointed that the conference did not encapsulate equality, instead promoting liberty, but only the liberty of the most elite citizens in society. I was especially disappointed by the roundtable "Education: a major lever for the emergence/construction of citizenship". Joshua Mitchell presented his recurring idea of "wokism" and "cancel culture" as a quasi religion encouraging conformity amongst the youth in favour of what Mathilde Brézet claims to be effective education. Speakers argued that the American and European education system should return to more traditional ideas and literature, arguing that racism is an essential element of American culture and that we should move away from modern LGBTQ+ ideals, at risk of losing "civilisation". Speakers even argued that white, straight males are a group who are facing unfair challenges in America today. Whilst I do not agree with modern "cancel culture", I believe it is important to avoid generalising tolerance and acceptance of non-white, LGBTQ+ individuals as "wokism". Furthermore, I believe that a major development in education in the last half century has been the (still incomplete) movement towards inclusion of individuals who are not from traditional elitist backgrounds, favouring intelligence over social standing. In contrast with the ideas promoted at this conference, I believe that in order to continue to promote democracy in modern, Western societies, educational systems should continue to dismantle issues such as institutional racism which restrict intellectual development to the intellectual capabilities of only a small percentage of society. In my opinion, this is much more in line with the equality promoted by Alexis Tocqueville than a regression towards outdated systems of elitism.

Over on our blog we have published our response to the non statutory draft guidance for schools and colleges in England and Wales regarding gender-questioning children and young people. This draft guidance was released on 19 December 2023 with a consultation open until 12 March 2024. We sent our own response as an organisation to that consultation back in March and are sharing our response publicly now to record our opposition to it in its entirety. Through our work and lived experience we know the impact on trans and gender expansive people when their right to exist is called into question. Every child and young person should be safe and respected in school or college and their best interests met in an environment that celebrates learning, inclusivity and diversity. The UK government’s draft guidance for schools in England does not respect or serve the interests of trans and gender-expansive children and young people and is at odds with existing children’s rights and equalities legislation in the UK, including both the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998. The lives of trans and gender-expansive children and young should never be up for debate. We join with many other LGBT+ organisations, youth organisations and schools in urging the government to reconsider the position taken in this guidance and instead to view this as a vital opportunity to implement clear guidance that creates genuine inclusivity and safety for all children and young people, including by listening to children and young people themselves. Head to our website to read our full statement, with links to relevant evidence and research. https://lnkd.in/eNjxA_GV

Today's reports of the racism in schools is a huge blow for education. It's now more important than ever to understand how the equality, diversity and inclusion policy and practice is embedded in your school. We want to help: https://lnkd.in/djErkt6B #EqualityforAll

Inclusive Education: Supporting Diversity on Irish Campuses!🏫 🇮🇪 Ireland's commitment to education extends beyond academic excellence to fostering an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity. ❇️Irish campuses are increasingly becoming hubs of inclusivity, where students from diverse backgrounds feel welcomed and supported. 👉Cultural Diversity: Irish universities and colleges actively embrace students from a multitude of cultural backgrounds. 👉Accessibility Initiatives:Efforts to make education accessible for everyone are a cornerstone of inclusive education in Ireland. 👉Gender Equality: Universities in Ireland actively work towards gender equality, promoting initiatives that address gender imbalances in various academic disciplines. 👉Mental Health Support: Recognizing the importance of mental health, Irish campuses offer comprehensive support services. 👉By fostering a culture that values and supports students from all walks of life, Irish campuses are creating educational environments where everyone can thrive, learn, and contribute to a global community that appreciates and celebrates differences. To learn more: https://lnkd.in/gtw73wXw 🌐englobaleducation.co.uk

Finally managed to complete this Equality, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EEDIB) course offered by RISE, which I've been meaning to get to for ages. This was a comprehensive program, covering vital aspects of creating inclusive spaces and highlighting the importance of equity in educational settings. It gave me an opportunity to reflect on my practice and refresh my knowledge about the UK Equality Act. It's always important to stay up-to-date, and this experience has enhanced my skills in working with young people, reinforcing my commitment to fostering inclusive environments. No doubt I'll be able to apply these insights to my future endeavours in academia, education, and beyond. Here’s to advocating for diversity and inclusion in all areas of life! #humansofmcrmetrise

In response to: https://lnkd.in/gnjg_fn8 Full quote: “It’s very clear that schools can be an accomplice in the perpetuation of gender inequity in society at large. Unless we trouble and interrogate all aspects of policy and practice in the Australian education system – as this ‘Gold Coast Schoolyard’ exploratory study begins to do – we will continue to limp forwards when it comes to basic human rights. In many cases, and certainly in that of the ‘resistors’ earmarked herein (i.e. schools which showed very little commitment to gender equity in all dimensions assessed), we are failing our students on an inclusion level with the findings of this preliminary school website content analysis. It is particularly alarming that private schools score poorly in every category assessed. Our young citizens will remember all this in years to come, and right now, this could be harming their mental health and wellbeing. Students’ gender equity futures are in our hands, so let’s be brave and advocate for consistent, deep-rooted systemic change on their behalf in terms of the inclusion problem that faces us in Gold Coast schools (and potentially in other states too). This pioneering study of public-facing materials in the schools’ online environment is a small step towards this greater good.” - Dr Rachael Jefferson (formerly Jefferson-Buchanan) lecturer at Charles Sturt University (NSW) and senior international inclusion and wellbeing expert Barcley Consulting Luke Ingles Sanuri De Silva Maria Josefa Arias #education #schools #research #evidence #equity #equality #gender #humanrights #kids #inclusion

Inclusive Education: Supporting Diversity on Irish Campuses!🏫 🇮🇪 Ireland's commitment to education extends beyond academic excellence to fostering an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity. ❇️Irish campuses are increasingly becoming hubs of inclusivity, where students from diverse backgrounds feel welcomed and supported. 👉Cultural Diversity: Irish universities and colleges actively embrace students from a multitude of cultural backgrounds. 👉Accessibility Initiatives:Efforts to make education accessible for everyone are a cornerstone of inclusive education in Ireland. 👉Gender Equality: Universities in Ireland actively work towards gender equality, promoting initiatives that address gender imbalances in various academic disciplines. 👉Mental Health Support: Recognizing the importance of mental health, Irish campuses offer comprehensive support services. 👉By fostering a culture that values and supports students from all walks of life, Irish campuses are creating educational environments where everyone can thrive, learn, and contribute to a global community that appreciates and celebrates differences. To learn more: https://lnkd.in/gtw73wXw 🌐englobaleducation.co.uk

This Juneteenth, we celebrate the historical significance of enslaved people's liberation in the US, but we also acknowledge the ongoing fight for racial equality and justice. Juneteenth serves as a powerful reminder of the work left to be done. We encourage businesses to move beyond symbolic gestures and translate their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) into actionable initiatives. Showcase Your Impact:  1. Endorse and support: Publicly endorse organizations working towards racial equity.  2. Invest in long-term solutions: Partner with organizations like CISWA to create sustainable programs addressing educational disparities.  3. Track and communicate progress: Clearly define goals and regularly update stakeholders on the impact of your efforts. Together, we can make a difference. The CIS WA network empowers students of color by dismantling systemic barriers and providing crucial social-emotional support. We believe every child deserves an equitable chance to succeed. Learn more about our commitment to equity: https://lnkd.in/gw56rUXm #Juneteenth #DEI #EducationEquity #AllinforKids