UCC EDI Annual Report

CONT

MILESTONES 2021 - 2022

MILESTONES 2021-22

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY

• UCC EDI Unit establishes new home in South Lodge

• UCC celebrates six Athena SWAN awards

• UCC Rainbow Walkway is Unveiled

• Student EDI Consultation Commences

• First Sanctuary Scholars Graduate

• UCC celebrates International Men’s Day for first time

• Lights of Remembrance Ceremony

• Race Equality in HE Sector Report Briefing

• Launch of IUA Race Equality Training

• Vigil for Victims of Gender Based Violence takes place

• ID+ Project Commences

• Iris Ashley Cummins Building is Unveiled

• Speak Out Anonymous Reporting Tool launched

JULYAUGUST

• EDI@UCC Young Artist Call launched, 22-23 Academic Year preparations

• UCC Celebrates Cork Pride

MARCHAPRILMAYJUNE

• HEA funded LIBRA Gender Equality through Simulation Project concludes

• At Home Mural Installation Celebrating Migrant Women Commences

• UCC-Cork Opera House Autistic Theatre Artist in Residence announced

• UCC celebrates International Global Accessibility Awareness Day

• Sanctuary Fellowship announced

• UCC Values & Culture/EDI Staff Consultation 2022 launched

• UCC awarded Traveller Ally Award

• IWD 2022 celebrations take place across campus

• UCC hosts Lesbian Lives Conference

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FROM THE PRESIDENT

A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT

reframe our efforts to advance the EDI agenda together with our UCC staff and colleagues and the wider university community.

In line with the university strategic plan UCC 2022, below is a summary of some of the key EDI actions undertaken in the university over the past twelve months. Further details can be found within the body of the main report.

EDI Unit

It has been a busy year for the EDI Unit team. The Unit welcomed two new team members Siobhán O’ Brien, SEA and Lisa Ryan, Data Analyst in spring 2021. We were delighted to welcome a new Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Dr Avril Hutch in June 2021. The EDI Unit also relocated to a new home in the South Lodge.

Equality Committee

I am pleased to share the UCC Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Annual Report for 2021-22. We would like to start by acknowledging the challenges of the past year as we transition through the COVID-19 pandemic, feel the intensifying impact of climate change, the effects of inflation, and witness conflict destroy communities around the world. These events have further underlined the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion, and the urgent need to continue to advocate and support the most marginalised in society. We have also used this period to reflect on what the how we function as an institution, and distil the lessons learned over the past two years of remote, online teaching, learning and working. We recognise that this has also been a time of significant anxiety and loss for many, and have worked with colleagues across the university to support colleagues and students during this period. We have also made steps to embed some the positive learnings from the pandemic. As we slowly returned to in person meetings and events, we were thrilled to reconnect, re-evaluate, and

The Equality Committee, chaired by Prof Ciara Heavin and Prof Nuala Finnegan in 2021-22 continued to support and advance the EDI agenda at UCC. I would particularly like to thank the Committee, which supported a consultation on the experience of COVID-19 at UCC.

Staff and Student Values & Culture/EDI Consultation

In collaboration with the UCC2022 Pillar Four Working Group (Action 4.3.2), the EDI Unit developed and rolled out the Values & Culture/ EDI consultation with UCC students and staff in October/November and March/March 2022 respectively. Over 1200 students and 1400 staff participated in this process. The consultation included survey, focus groups and one-to-one interviews. Information provided in the survey will be used to inform the next UCC Strategic Plan, EDI Framework and forthcoming Athena SWAN applications. A final report detailing key findings is scheduled to be delivered in September 2022.

Athena SWAN

In 2021-22, UCC’s Schools of Pharmacy, Chemistry and Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences became the first UCC Schools to successfully renew their bronze Athena Swan accreditation. First-time bronze UCC awardees in 2021/2022 included the School of Microbiology and the School of Biochemistry & Cell Biology. Tyndall National Institute also become the first research institute in UCC to receive a bronze award. The School of Mathematical Science and the School of Applied Psychology submitted applications in 2021/2022 and await results, with Applied Psychology the first School applicant from CACSSS. UCC now holds 12 institutional awards and an institutional Bronze award. A new Athena SWAN Charter was launched in November 2021 - UCC is a signatory of same and is committed to enacting the new Athena SWAN principles.

Speak Out Anonymous Reporting Tool Launch

In February 2022, the Speak Out anonymous reporting tool for staff and students was launched at UCC. Speak Out is an online tool which provides a safe and secure platform for both staff and students to anonymously report incidents they have experienced or witnessed including bullying, cyber bullying, harassment, discrimination, coercive behaviour, control, stalking, assault, sexual harassment, sexual assault or rape. This tool is completely anonymous. The Speak Out website guides users to relevant supports and provides advice on UCC’s formal reporting procedures should users wish to use them. The information that is collected through the Speak Out tool will be used to develop trauma-informed policy and identify additional educational initiatives to benefit our entire university community.

Gender Equality

In November 2021, UCC was delighted to announce approval for a second post under the Senior Academic Leadership Initiative (SALI) for a Professor in Quantum Technology. This announcement is being made under Cycle 2 of the Senior Academic Leadership Initiative (SALI), the goal of which is to accelerate progress in achieving gender balance at the senior academic level in Higher Education Institutions.

In November 2021, UCC also hosted its first panel discussion in celebration of International Men’s Day. Covering topics like parenthood & caring, the impact of Covid, mental health, gendered roles and inter-personal relationships, we highlighted positive role models and raised awareness of men’s wellbring, as well as exploring the relations between the genders.

On International Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (24 February, 2022), UCC announced that its current Civil Engineering Building was to be renamed as the Iris Ashley Cummins building, in honour of UCC’s first female engineering graduate. This was the first building to be named after a woman on the UCC campus. The ceremony was attended by Cummins’ great grand-nephew and niece who travelled from the UK for the occasion. Over one hundred staff and students attended the event.

To mark International Women’s Day in March 2022, UCC hosted a panel on EDI x Sustainability with experts from Ireland and Malawi hosted by Louise Mc Sharry.

LGBT+ Equality

In October 2022, UCC unveiled a rainbow walkway on campus, becoming one of the first universities in Ireland to do so. The walkway was visited by Minister Simon Harris in November 2022. Based on the progress flag, this is a permanent symbol of UCC’s commitment to supporting and standing in solidarity with the LGBT+ community.

A Coming Out Day panel discussion was also held in October 2021 with national LGBT+ organisations and representatives from the LGBT+ Staff Network, Student Union and LGBTQ+ society.

In March 2022, the UCC LGBT+ Staff Network partnered with a number of national organisations to host the Lesbian Lives Conference here at UCC. The event was attended by more than 200 people and live-streamed to a global audience.

In April, members of the UCC community also participated in vigils for murder victims, Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee. The need for the university to address homophobia and transphobia was emphasised.

In July 2022, UCC also officially sponsored Cork Pride for the first time, with the President hosting a UCC Together With Pride Afternoon Tea Party for over two hundred people and the UCC Deputy President and Registrar marching in the Cork Pride parade.

University of Sanctuary

In January 2022, UCC successfully renewed its University of Sanctuary status with Universities of Sanctuary Ireland. To date, 28 people have been awarded Sanctuary Scholarships by UCC for undergraduate degrees. The first UCC Sanctuary Scholarship recipients to be conferred with undergraduate degrees graduated in November 2021. The UCC Sanctuary programme was also highlighted on RTE News in February 2022.

In February 2022, the fifth annual UCC Refugee Week was successfully held on campus with a new Refugee week flag raised over the Quad.

In April 2022, in response to conflicts across the world, UCC announced that it had created a Sanctuary Fellowship Scheme. Under the fellowship UCC will provide 6 fellows with a support package including a start-up grant and a monthly salary for six months.

In response to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine, ACE also rallied students and colleagues across the campus to create a sixweek course, ‘Introduction to Student Life in Ireland’. This course was open to any and all students who are from refugee or asylum-seeking backgrounds.

Race Equality

In October 2022, the HEA published the first Race Equality in Higher Education report. UCC staff and students were invited to participate in the survey which informed the report in early 2022. The authors of the report were invited by the Race Equality Forum and EDI Unit to present the report’s findings/key recommendations.

In February 2022, UCC celebrated the life and work of Frederick Douglass during Douglass Week. The main programme took place in Washington D.C. this year with more than thirty events. A special event by Sanctuary runners was also organised here in UCC.

In March 2022, Cork Traveller Women’s Network and Cork Traveller Visibility Group presented University College Cork with a Traveller Ally Award, one of the first ever awarded by these groups. The UCC diploma course in Leadership in the Community, developed in collaboration with the Southern Traveller Health Network which saw over twenty Traveller women complete a higher education course, was particularly commended.

The Equality Committee and Race Equality Forum prepared a Race Equality Forum 2020-22 summary report and recommendations in May 2022 and this was submitted to the President and DPR for consideration. The need for the university to address racism and discrimination was highlighted.

Addressing Sexual Harassment & Gender-Based Violence

Following the murder of Ashling Murphy in Tullamore, the Student’s Union led a candlelight vigil on campus in memory of Ashling and all those who have died because of gender-based violence. Hundreds of UCC staff and students attended. Other initiatives included Cocoon Nights which invited creative responses to gender violence from across the UCC community (see P26).

This further highlighted the importance of the Sexual Violence and Harassment Framework. UCC Staff and students continued to participate in Bystander Training, with 370 individuals completing the Bystander Digital Badge. A new online blended consent and bystander training programme was developed and a dedicated UCC Sexual Misconduct Policy for Staff and Students was also developed in 2021-22 and is expected to launch in the late 2022.

Disability

In January the HEA-funded id+ project was launched. It is aimed at the development of new programmes including new Certificates in DisabilityInclusive Practice and in Social Citizenship. Our Disability Support and Access Offices also continue to support thousands of students each year with new and innovative programmes.

Frank McGrath award for Welfare and Equality

Finally, congratulations to Dr Laurence Davis who was the recipient of this year’s Frank McGrath award for Welfare and Equality, in recognition of his advocacy for EDI over the last eight years.

This report details not only the work of the Equality Committee and EDI Unit, but also the wider community approach to embedding EDI across every aspect of university life. I look forward to working together with this community in the coming years to further advance this important EDI agenda.

Thank you also to Deputy-President and Registrar Stephen Byrne and the DPR Office for sponsoring our important EDI work, and to you, the university community, for your continued solidarity and partnership.

Prof John O’ Halloran, President, UCC

EQUALITY DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AT UCC

Equality is about dignity and respect. It is about ensuring that every individual has an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives and talents, and believing that no one should have poorer life chances because of where or when they were born, or who they were when they were born, what they believe, or whether they have a disability. Equality is not always about treating everyone the same – it is about treating people in such a way that the outcome for each person can be the same. This means putting things in place to support people to achieve similar outcomes.

Diversity is about differences, seen and unseen. Inclusion is about creating an environment where people are valued, feel valued and are able to achieve and contribute to their full potential.

An inclusive environment improves interaction with staff, students and our wider community.

UCC’s equality, diversity and inclusion work is based on the ten equality grounds set out below:

AGE

A person’s age includes only those over 18. CIVIL STATUS

Whether a person is single, married, separated, divorced, widowed, civil partnered or formerly civil partnered.

DISABILITY

A person with an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual impairment.

FAMILY STATUS

Being pregnant or having responsibility as a parent or relation to a person under 18 years, or as a parent or carer for an adult with a disability.

GENDER

A person’s gender identity be it male, female, transgender or non-binary

MEMBERSHIP OF THE TRAVELLER COMMUNITY

A recognised ethnic group.

RACE/ ETHNICITY

A person’s skin colour, national or ethnic origins.

RELIGION

A person’s religious beliefs or having none, the term ‘religious belief’ includes religious background and outlook.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION

A person’s sexual orientation including heterosexual, lesbian, gay and bisexual.

SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS

A person’s social and economic background.

WHO ARE WE?

EQUALITY COMMITTEE

The Equality Committee Chair is appointed by the President of UCC. The Committee is representative of the staff and student body. The Committee convenes four times a year and liaises with the EDI Unit to oversee implementation of the EDI programme of work.

The membership is as follows:

Prof Ciara Heavin Interim Chair, Equality Committee (Feb-Dec 2021)

Prof Nuala Finnegan Chair, Equality Committee (Returned Jan 2022)

Dr Maria Buckley Research Staff Representative

Suzanne Buckley International Office

Daniel Byrne Equality Rep, UCCSU

Olive Byrne Director of Access

Dr Mark Chu Senior Lecturer, Department of Italian; past co-chair Race Equality Forum

Dr Dug Cubie Chair, University of Sanctuary Working Group; Lecturer, School of Law

Dr Laurence Davis LGBT+ Staff Network Representative

Dr Amanullah De Sondy Co-chair Race Equality Forum; Head, Study of Religions

Linda Doran Head, Disability Support Service

Natasha Dromey Adult Continuing Education Representative

Dr Angela Flynn IFUT Representative

Dr Anne Gannon Human Resources Representative

Dr Avril Hutch Director, EDI Unit

Gary Hurley SIPTU Representative

Prof Jeanne Jackson College of Medicine and Health Representative

Ann King Athena SWAN Officer, EDI Unit

Dr Mary Noonan College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences Representative

Mary O’Sullivan Mature Student Officer

Paul Prendergast Buildings Officer

Maeve Richardson Community & Engagement Officer, UCC SU

Dr Marius Sabin Tabirca College of Science, Engineering and Food Science Representative

Siobhán O’ Brien EDI Unit (Committee Secretary)

EDI Unit

The EDI Unit reports to the Deputy President and Registrar Professor Stephen Byrne. The staff of the EDI Unit are as follows:

Dr Avril Hutch Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Anne-Marie Curtin Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Ann King Athena SWAN Project Officer

Lisa Ryan Data Analyst

Siobhán O’Brien Senior Executive Assistant Kasia Pyrz Data Analyst

A YEAR IN REVIEW

2021 - AUG 2022

SEPTEMBER 2021

Sanctuary Scholarships

In September 2021, five new sanctuary scholars were welcomed to UCC to take up undergraduate degrees. They enrolled in programmes in Arts, Psychology and Nursing. These awards are complemented by sanctuary offerings in ACE and the Language Centre as part of the broader work of the University of Sanctuary Working Group, in collab oration with and facilitated by the EDI Unit.

Traveller Pride Flag Raising

On September 29th, as part of Cork Traveller Pride Week 2021, the Cork Traveller Pride flag was raised on UCC quad for the first time. The EDI Unit in collaboration with the Traveller Equality and Justice Project (TEJP) in the Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights invited members of the Cork Traveller Community to UCC to raise the pride flag on campus as part of Cork Traveller Pride week. They were joined by the President, Professor John O’Halloran, in celebrating this occasion. Following this, the Traveller Ally & Proud sticker was launched in the Glucksman Gallery.

President John O’ Halloran and members of Cork Traveller community come together to raise a flag in the Quad for Cork Traveller Pride

OCTOBER 2021

HIGHLIGHT STORY ON LGBT + STAFF NETWORK

UCC Rainbow Walkway

#ProgressWithPride symbolises the progress we have made since the first LGBT+ networks were established here in UCC in the 1980s, our own progress as a country, the personal progress of each individual, and the progress we still need to make towards becoming a truly inclusive community. As part of this campaign we were delighted that our President John O’ Halloran unveiled a UCC rainbow walkway on campus on 11 October (between the Boole Library and O’ Rahilly Building). The walkway is based on the Progress Flag design by Valentino Vecchietti. The rainbow walkway was proposed by the LGBT+ Network and is a joint initiative in partnership with the Student Union, Buildings and Estates and the EDI Unit. As part of the ceremony, the LGBT Network also bestowed lifetime membership on Cathal Kerrigan and Dr Joan McCarthy in honour of their trailblazing work establishing the first LGBT+ Network in any university in Ireland.

Student Survey

On 13 October, all students were invited to take part in the second ever UCC EDI student survey. Students in all programmes were invited to complete the new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Student Survey. Their feedback will help inform UCC’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion priorities. Over 1,200 students completed the survey.

Athena SWAN Awards

On 20 October UCC celebrated its recent Athena SWAN award successes, recognising the University’s commitment to promoting good practice and advancing gender equality in higher education.

At a virtual ceremony, Minister Simon Harris congratulated awardees to celebrate the advancement of equality in higher education. Three awards cycles were included in the ceremony, with UCC receiving nine awards, including the Institutional Bronze award (awarded in 2019). To celebrate this success, UCC held its own outdoor ceremony in the University’s President’s Garden, with President John O’Halloran presenting Athena SWAN awards to UCC’s School of Biochemistry & Cell Biology (2021 awardee), Dental School & Hospital (2020), School of Law (2021), School of Nursing & Midwifery (2020), and School of Public Health (2019).

President O’Halloran also accepted an award from Professor Áine Hyland for the University’s institutional Athena SWAN accreditation, successfully renewed in 2019.

Poster for UCC EDI Student Survey 2021

UCC celebrates six Athena SWAN awards in 2021UCC staff and students celebrate the opening of the Rainbow Walkway

HIGHLIGHT STORY

Organised/participated in/led panel talks and workshops in a variety of fora, such as:

• UCC’s Admissions Office’s ‘Fáilte Fest’ and Orientation Days

UCC LGBT + STAFF NETWORK

UCC’s LGBT+ Staff Network aims to work in partnership with management and staff of University College Cork to create a safe, inclusive and diverse working environment that encourages a culture of respect and equality for everyone regardless of their sexual orientation, in order that every individual can reach their full potential without fear of discrimination. The Staff Network organise and curate a diverse range of academic, educational, professional consultative, advocacy, support and cultural events across each year. These events are often held in conjunction with other units across campus.

In this report, we have categorised the range of activities completed under subheadings below.

• The ‘Coming Out at College’ webinar organised by the EDI unit as part of 11 October ‘National Coming Out Day’

• Two LGBT+ health-matters public webinars as part of UCC Community Week 2021

• An online webinar to mark International Day of Transgender Visibility with TENI

• Presentation on inclusive practices in healthcare settings to the Occupational Therapies team in Bon Secours Hospital Cork

• A Culture Night oral history event about LGBT+ lives in the 1980s in association with Orla Egan, Cork’s LGBT Archive

• A public webinar as part of the national and inaugural “Valuing Ireland’s Teaching & Learning Week” entitled ‘TRANSforming the Curriculum’ with guest speaker Dr Vanessa Lacey

• 25th Lesbian Lives Conference

In October 2021, the LGBT+ Staff Network Awarded Lifetime Honorary Membership to the Network’s founding members: Cathal Kerrigan & Joan McCarthy, formally presenting them with crystal trophies at a public event marking their contribution to LGBT+ rights in UCC and beyond (October 2021). The event was the formal opening of the Rainbow Walkway, a submission for which had been made by the LGBT+ Staff Network to the Deputy President’s Office and the EDI Unit. As part of this development, the Progress Pride sticker wrapper was installed in the Boole Library.

The above is just a taster of the work this year, which included advice, advocacy, committee work and education as well as cultural events and public engagement, which culminated in two firsts: the raising of the Progress flag over the Quad and UCC sponsoring Cork Pride. We were delighted to march with colleagues and allies, under the UCC banner, in Cork Pride in July.

Transforming the curriculum: Affirmative Higher Education Community Week: Targeted Services & Community Research: the Cervical Screening Report for LGBTI+ Community Week: Improving services: LGBT+ and dementia

NOVEMBER 2021

New Athena SWAN Charter

In 2020-21, the Athena SWAN Charter underwent a re-development in line with the findings of a national consultation and now offers a framework that is specific and unique to Ireland. The new Charter was published in late November. To assist units in understanding the requirements for making an application under the new Charter, briefing sessions were arranged by the EDI Unit for those involved in making institutional application and those in schools, departments and professional units.

Deaf awareness training for UCC staff launched

November saw the first in a series of monthly Deaf Awareness Training sessions, facilitated by Cork Deaf Association. The sessions have been well attended and have received positive responses, with staff indicating a desire to learn ISL on foot of the training sessions.

UCC celebrates International Men’s Day

For the first time, the Quad was illuminated in blue, for International Men’s Day 2021. On 19 November, we were delighted to host the first UCC International Men’s Day panel discussion where we celebrated the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities. Covering topics like parenthood & caring, the impact of Covid, mental health, gendered roles and interpersonal relationships, we highlighted positive role models and raised awareness of men’s wellbeing, as well as exploring the relations between the genders. Professor John F Cryan, Dr Michael Byrne, Dr Mohamad Saab, Dr Welsey O’Brien and Kieran Hurley were warmly welcomed to the discussion.

Deaf awareness training for UCC staff launched

The Quad lit blue for International Men’s Day 2021

UCC celebrates International Men’s Day

Sanctuary Undergraduate Degree Graduations

Diekolola Amujo (pictured) and another student (who wishes to remain anonymous) were among the first group of students to be awarded a scholarship in 2018 and were the first to graduate from UCC three years later. The scholarship scheme is a large part of why UCC was accredited as a University of Sanctuary status in 2018 and is run jointly by the University of Sanctuary Working Group and the EDI Unit, with assistance from Access.

Minister Harris visits UCC

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD visited University College Cork (UCC). The Minister viewed the much-cherished Old College Bar which has been transformed into a dedicated space of respite and calm for students, and in particular students on the autism spectrum. The Minister also saw how UCC has transformed its campus to meet the diverse needs of its students, with recently developed calm outdoor spaces including the Boole Courtyard and the Hawthorn Garden. The Minister also met UCC staff on the #ProgressWithPride Rainbow Walkway. UCC was the first LGBT+ Staff Network & Student Society in an Irish university.

Minister Simon Harris visits UCC and walks the Rainbow Walkway

Diekolola Amujo, BA Applied Psychology, one of the first two Sanctuary Scholars to graduate with an undergraduate degree

2021

An inclusive and sustainable UCC. Period. Period Health Project

A series of events and programmes to promote menstrual health and the environment called “An Inclusive and Sustainable UCC Period.” was a collaboration between UCC Green Campus, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Unit, Students Union and Staff Wellbeing and Development, and chaired by Dr Avril Hutch, Director of EDI in UCC. As part of this campaign, two “Plastic Free Periods for All” workshops with VOICE Ireland were run with Abigail O’Callaghan-Platt from charity VOICE delivering a workshop looking at disposable and reusable menstrual items while Dr Brenda Moran delivered a talk on the menopause on 9 December.

Race Equality in HE Sector Report Briefing & launch of IUA Race Equality Training (Canvas module)

On 10 December, we were delighted to welcome Drs Marta Kempny and Lucy Michael to present on their report on Race Equality in the Higher Education Sector, commissioned by the HEA in 2021. Drs Kempny and Michael spoke on the main findings and recommendations and then took questions with Dr Amanullah De Sondy, Chair of the UCC Race Equality Forum.

At this event also the new online training commissioned by the IUA Equality Network Let’s Talk about Race in the Higher Education Sector was launched. This training is available to all UCC staff and covers racism in Ireland, stereotype, white privilege, prejudice and how to effectively counter racism.

Live presentation with (t-b) Drs Lucy Michael, Amanullah De Sondy & Marta Kempny

An inclusive and sustainable UCC. Period. - Period Health Project

Race Equality in HE Sector Report Briefing & launch of IUA Race Equality Training

Lights of Remembrance

On 20 December, to honour the staff and students who passed away during the year or who suffered bereavement or illness, a series of Remembrance events were held, organised by Wellbeing & Development and Buildings and Estates in conjunction with the EDI Unit and others. They included a Lights of Remembrance Ceremony, a reflection book available for signature, and a video recording of a remembrance ceremony in the Honan Chapel.

Susan O’Mahony, UCC HR Wellbeing

“I value the inclusiveness and collegial support for staff wellbeing initiatives.

One example was the Ceremony of Lights event where the entire UCC community took a moment to reflect and remember those who were bereaved, those who were ill and those who supported us throughout the Pandemic.”

Lights of Remembrance at UCC

President John O’Halloran speaking at the Remembrance Ceremony in the Honan Chapel

JANUARY 2022

UCC Holds Vigil in Memory of Ashling Murphy

On 17 January, staff and students came together in Honan Plaza in memory of Ashling Murphy.

Student Union President Asha Woodhouse read out the names of 236 victims of gender-based violence who have lost their lives in Ireland since 1996. President John O’Halloran and Director of the UCC Bystander Programme Prof Louise Crowley were also in attendance. President O’Halloran also paused Academic Council for a minute’s silence as a mark of respect and solidarity with family and friends on 14 January.

HEA publishes Report on National Surveys of Student and Staff Experiences of Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment in Higher Education

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, on 27 January launched the findings of national surveys of student and staff experiences of sexual violence and harassment in higher education. UCC staff and students were invited to participate in this survey in April 2021. The findings will be used to advance the implementation of the Sexual Violence and Harassment Framework at UCC.

Student Union President Asha Woodhouse and attendees at Ashling Murphy vigil in the Honan Plaza.

Bystander Intervention, campaign

HIGHLIGHT STORY

UCC RACE EQUALITY FORUM

The Race Equality Forum was set up in the autumn of 2019 as part of a joint priority action between the UCC Equality Committee and the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Unit. It stemmed from an identified need for anti-racist action in UCC established in the ‘Who is UCC?’ survey of staff and students in 2018. Racism is widely acknowledged as a serious societal issue and prevalent across all sectors of Higher Education in Ireland. The Higher Education Authority’s recent report revealed widespread racial and ethnic discrimination on university campuses in Ireland (HEA - Race Equality in Higher Education Analysis) and UCC needs to actively combat racism on campus and in its institutional structures.

Following a series of exploratory meetings held with staff and students of colour and ethnic minority in early 2019, it was recognised that a space where staff and students of colour and ethnic minority could speak freely and safely about their experiences should be created on a semi-formal basis. This format would enable views to be shared and thus help to shape future recommendations on actions. The forum that was established on foot of these meetings was set up with two co-chairs, one internal and one external, and all participants were people of colour or minority ethnicity. UCC Chairs of the Race Equality Forum were Dr Mark Chu (2019-2020) and Dr Amanullah De Sondy (2020-present) with Dr Brigid Quilligan and Mrs Margarita O’Driscoll appointed as external co-Chairs.

Recommendations from the forum experience fall into three broad categories: Support & Representation, Monitoring & Reporting, Awareness & Advocacy. The overarching aim is to bring about a cultural shift in UCC in thinking about inclusion and diversity in a way that effects positive change in relation to race equality. This shift needs to be included in strategic planning, be embedded across the campus community, and build deep awareness about the histories of racism, white supremacy and their legacy in Higher Education.

As part of the Race Equality Forum, a ‘Conversations on Racism in Ireland’ series, led by Race Equality Forum Chair, Dr Amanullah De Sondy, was held throughout 2020-2022, with invited guests such as Professor Kalpana Shankar, Professor of Information and Communication Studies at University College Dublin; Moonyoung Hong, a PhD candidate in the School of English at Trinity College, Dublin, and Rosemarie Maughan, National Traveller Accommodation Policy Officer with the Irish Traveller Movement. The series also included a special panel entitled, UCC Students Speak in March 2021, as well as A Conversation on Douglass and Being Irish in Modern Ireland, both held as part of the festival commemorating the legacy of anti-slavery activist, Frederick Douglass, in 2021 & 2022.

Douglas Week Logo

The id+ Project

The id+ Project commenced in January 2022.

Based on the impact of the Certificate in Contemporary Living, as recognised by the HEA in 2021, funding of €1,000,000 was awarded to support a new project developing rights-based, inclusive education programmes which:

Provide mutually beneficial learning synergies between students with and without disabilities

Enable PWID to develop skills for future learning and employment

Build capacity in inclusive education for PWID across the higher education sector.

We are delighted to see the development of two new programmes through the id+ Project: Certificate in Disability-Inclusive Practice and the Certificate in Social Citizenship

The id+ Project promotes the fundamental rights of people with intellectual disabilities to attend third-level education and to progress to paid employment. Congratulations to Professor Máire Leane on bringing this project to fruition.

Damian Butler from Mature Student Office:

“My role involves connecting and engaging with students, guiding and signposting them towards educational routes and then supporting them throughout their undergraduate journey in UCC.

The greatest challenge I face in my role is working with students to facilitate them overcoming the stigma, low self-confidence and Imposter Syndrome that they can carry with them as they first commence and indeed progress through their studies in UCC.

This challenge presents the greatest reward however, as witnessing, facilitating and fostering their personal, academic and professional growth is truly humbling and satisfying.”

Graduates of the id+ programme, UCC

HIGHLIGHT STORY

Temitope Akinlade, Sanctuary Scholar 2018:

UCC University of Sanctuary

2021/22 was a busy year for the University of Sanctuary Working Group (USWG). In January 2022, UCC was reaccredited as a University of Sanctuary by Universities of Sanctuary Ireland.

The year also saw the culmination of work being led by the current Chair, Dr Dug Cubie, to review the governance structure and terms of reference of the Working Group and to develop a multi-year funding proposal for all of UCC’s University of Sanctuary activities. Additionally, new members were welcomed into the Working Group, the fifth annual Refugee Week took place in February with strong support from the Fáilte Refugees student society and the Students’ Union, and we were delighted to congratulate our first graduates from our undergraduate degree programmes. The Sanctuary Solidarity fund supported initiatives in collaboration with members of the refugee community, such as the publication of a poetry Zine called The Penseekers, the rental of the athletics track in the Mardyke Arena for Sanctuary Runners to train for the Cork City Marathon, and fees for community contributors to workshops as part of the Praxis: Global Citizenship & Development Education project.

The academic year concluded with the first phase of a strategic planning process, to identify the priorities for UCC as a University of Sanctuary for the period 2023-28, which in turn will feed into the development of the new Strategic Plan.

Back in 2017, when I wrote to several colleges in Ireland explaining my circumstances and academic goals, I never believed that I would become a student at UCC. At this time, third level education was restrictive for refugees, and availing of it meant that we would be categorized as international students, except we were not allowed to earn as refugees, and the process of liaising several identity and educational documents between the Department of Justice and colleges was almost impossible.

The UCC Sanctuary scholarship helped students like myself, who wished to continue their education despite all odds to ensure that our academic goals were achievable. Like 25+ students to date, I was given a one in a million opportunity to study any course of choice (Biological and Chemical Sciences) through the UCC Sanctuary Scholarship and till today, the happy screams still echo.

My four years at UCC were the most eventful years of my life. I met new people, joined many societies, built several networks and connections, represented the college home and abroad, etc. All these could not have been without the help of UCC PLUS+ and the EDI unit.

Everyone involved in the Sanctuary Scholarship was always ready to help and point me in the right direction, and I honestly could not have asked for a better academic family. I was indeed home away from home.

My major (Biotechnology), on the other hand, embodied every aspect of health, research and science, and a degree in this course is a door to many academic and employment opportunities. From the lecturers to my project supervisor (Dr Jerry Reen), the Director of the BSc Biotechnology (Dr David Clarke), and my fellow course mates, we all wanted the best for every student, and no one was left behind.

Saying ‘’thank you’’ is not enough to express my gratitude toward UCC, but I hope to go out there in the world and ensure that my every milestone is indicative of the success that UCC prepared me for. I currently work at Boston Scientific, and I hope to complete my Master’s in Marketing and Management to prepare me for the next step in my career; without a doubt, I would choose UCC again.

Graduates of the id+ programme, UCC

Temitope Akinlade, UCC. Photo by Tomás Tyner, UCC

FEBRUARY 2022

Launch of Speak Out at UCC

On 8 February, the Speak Out anonymous reporting tool for staff and students was launched at UCC. This tool is also available across seventeen other higher education institutions across Ireland. Speak Out is an online tool which provides a safe and secure platform for both staff and students to anonymously report incidents they have experienced or witnessed including bullying, cyber bullying, harassment, discrimination, coercive behaviour, control, stalking, assault, sexual harassment, sexual assault or rape. This tool is completely anonymous. The Speak Out website guides users to relevant supports and provides advice on UCC’s formal reporting procedures should users wish to use them. The information that is collected through the Speak Out tool will be used to develop trauma-informed policy and identify additional educational initiatives to benefit our entire university community. The tool can be accessed at www.ucc.ie/speakout.

UCC hosts 5th Annual Refugee Week

Refugee Week is an important annual event bringing needed focus to both the issues faced and the cultural and other benefits brought by our refugee and migrant populations.

UCC Awarded Cork Traveller Ally Award

Cork Women Travellers Group and Cork Traveller Visibility Group recognise UCC for creating welcoming spaces for Travellers and supporting Traveller rights and culture.

UNIC UCC Superdiversity Seminar Series

On 28 February, the Superdiversity Academy Series begins with a critical roundtable discussion which aims to open up the concept of superdiversity. Speakers included Dr. Claire Dorrity, School of Applied Social Studies; Dr. Stephen O’Brien, School of Education with panellists Dr. Naomi Masheti, Co-ordinator, Cork Migrant Centre, Dr. Avril Hutch, Director, EDI Unit, Dr. Denis Linehan, Department of Geography.

Speak Out

Refugee Week Poster

UNIC LogoCork Travellers Logo

HIGHLIGHT STORY

UCC names Civil Engineering Building after First Female Engineering Graduate, Iris Ashley Cummins

On International Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, University College Cork (UCC) announced that its current Civil Engineering Building would become the Iris Ashley Cummins building, in honour of UCC’s first female engineering graduate. Iris Ashley Cummins, born in Glanmire Co. Cork in 1894, graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering from UCC in 1915 and would become the first female land surveyor for the Irish Land Commission and the first female Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland. Iris was also a talented hockey player, representing both UCC and Ireland at senior level.

This is the first UCC building to be named after a groundbreaking individual female graduate and the initiative forms part of the university’s ambition to place equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of its activities. It is expected that this will be the first of many UCC campus buildings to be named after inspirational female pioneers.

Through Athena SWAN, the university seeks to further amplify and celebrate the achievements of UCC’s female trailblazers. This includes the naming and dedication of central assets. In recent years, the legacy of three UCC female role modelsProfessor Mary Ryan, Dr Dora Allman and Dr Lucy Smith - has been recognised through the naming of spaces on the main campus. UCC also holds the archives of Elizabeth Friedlander, Nancy McCarthy,

and the Irish Feminist Archive, while many significant female authors are published at Cork University, B.G. MacCarthy, author of the innovative and original work of literary criticism, ‘The Female Pen’.

John O’Halloran, President, UCC said:

“We are delighted to mark the naming of UCC’s Civil Engineering Building in honour of Iris Ashley Cummins - UCC’s first female engineering graduate. Iris is an exemplar for women in STEM. She was an independent and creative thinker whose pioneering actions challenged the gender norms of her day. We are proud of her achievements, and we hope that everyone who passes through the doors of the Iris Ashley Cummins building will find inspiration in her legacy. You cannot be what you cannot see and this is another important step in providing role models for our community”.

Dan Hearn, grandnephew of Iris Ashley Cummins who attended the ceremony at UCC said:

“This is a very special day for STEM at UCC. By elevating the legacy of women like Iris Ashley Cummins, we hope we can encourage our female students to pursue exciting and rewarding careers in STEM. Generations of UCC students can now find inspiration in Iris’ remarkable story and be motivated to follow in her ambitious footsteps”.

“We are honoured that University College Cork has decided to name this building after our relative Iris Ashley Cummins. Iris and her family had strong links to the university, and it makes us very proud to see her memory being kept alive in this way. I think she would be especially pleased to know that this is the first of UCC’s building to be named after a female pioneer.”

Professor Sarah Culloty, Head, College of Science, Engineering and Food Science, UCC commented:

Iris Ashley Cummins Building, Lily Purcell, Dr Marguerite Nyhan, Prof. Jorge Oliveira, Prof. John O’Halloran, Rose Campbell, David James, Prof. Sarah Culloty, Prof. Jerry Murphy, Dr Avril Hutch, Mark Poland, Photo By Tomas Tyner UCC

The Cummins family of Cork - L-R- Mary (Hearn), Jane (Miller), Geraldine, Phyllis (Hayes) & Iris

Values & Culture/ Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Staff Consultation 2022

In collaboration with the UCC2022 Pillar Four Working Group (Action 4.3.2), the EDI Unit developed and rolled out the Values & Culture/ EDI consultation with UCC staff between March and May 2022 respectively. Over 1,400 staff participated in this process. The consultation included survey, focus groups and one-to-one interviews. Information provided in the survey will be used to inform the next UCC Strategic Plan, EDI Framework and forthcoming Athena SWAN applications. A final report detailing key findings is scheduled to be delivered in September 2022. The information shared in this consultation process can be used as a benchmark against which to set our future programme of work, increase transparency and accountability, and allow us to measure impact. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this important process.

International Women’s Day 2022 #BreakTheBias

In March, units across UCC joined the #BreakTheBias campaign for International Women’s Day 2022.

On 4 March, the EDI Unit and Mná@UCC hosted a panel discussion “Climate x Gender Equality” to explore the relationship between the climate crisis and gender equality. The conversation, hosted by Louise McSharry, included Dr Sinéad Walsh, Ireland Climate Directoree, DFA; Dr Maria Kirrane, Sustainability Officer, UCC; Chikumbutso Kilembe, Rural Development Specialist, IrishAid; and Aoibheann O’Brien, CEO FoodCloud.

On 7 March, Cocoon Nights, marked the start of an informal open mic event series that aims to raise awareness of the concerning and growing numbers of femicides in Ireland, sponsored by the Centre for Advanced Study in Languages and Cultures. http://casilac.ie/portfolio-item/cocoon-nights/

On 8 March, UCC Rejuvenate launched its fifth programme, and individuals across UCC participated in the International Women’s Day #BreakTheBias campaign.

On 30 March, the School of Nursing and Midwifery explored the Under-representation of Men in Nursing & Midwifery.

Athena SWAN Award for School of Microbiology

On 31 March, the School of Microbiology

(led by Jen Mahony) earned its first Athena SWAN award and the School of Pharmacy at UCC successfully renewed its Athena SWAN accreditation. Athena SWAN assessors commended the School of Microbiology for plans to align staff interested in applying for future promotion rounds with colleagues who had been successful in previous calls.

Nationally, Minister Simon Harris launched the HEA’s review of gender equality in higher education.

On 4-5 March, UCCs LGBT+ Staff Network hosted the 25th Lesbian Lives Conference, with the theme of ‘Solidarity’.

Athena SWAN success for Chemistry and BEES

This month, UCC’s Schools of Pharmacy, Chemistry and Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences became the first UCC Schools to successfully renew their bronze Athena Swan accreditation, led by Dr. Kevin Murphy (Pharmacy) and Dr. Florence McCarthy (Chemistry). Commending the Schools’ good practice, Athena SWAN assessors cited the School of Pharmacy’s creation of a Vice-Dean position to provide leadership opportunities for senior staff; the School of Chemistry for its plans to launch an EDI Symposium for all Irish Schools of Chemistry, and the School of BEES for implementing paid Keep in Touch days for colleagues on maternity leave. Congratulations to all involved.

International Women’s Day 2022 #BreakTheBias

HIGHLIGHT STORY

Mná@UCC Women’s Network

Mná@UCC, UCC’s Women’s network was launched in November 2020 and currently has 335 members. Its mission is to promote and support the visibility and professional development of all women in UCC as well as meaningfully contribute to a culture of balance, inclusion and equality into the future. Each year, the network committee, chaired by network co-founder, Dr. Siobhán Lucey (Economics) provide a range of events and activities to support women’s careers and professional development across the university.

For the 21/22 academic year, Mná@UCC events and activities included the following:

As part of a guest speaker series, Dr Mary Falvey (October 2021) discussed her journey through medicine and medical politics starting with her role in the junior doctors’ strike of 1987, via her beginnings in North Kerry, through Doctors for Choice, Repeal, President of the ICGP and her current role on NPHET. In February 2022, Professor Lindsey Earner-Byrne, SALI Professor of Irish Gender History, discussed her work “The Personal is Political: Being a Historian of Gender”.

As part of their workshop series, Dr Maeve Lankford provided a workshop (December 2021) to Mná@UCC members on “Four strategies to find your voice, communicate your value and thrive at work” and Professor Eileen Savage facilitated a workshop in May 2022 on “Pivoting for success in your academic career”. In March 2022, to mark International Women’s Day 2022, Mná@UCC in conjunction with the EDI Unit and Green Campus held a panel discussion on Climate x Gender Equality.

Throughout the year, Mná@UCC also held a series of Teaspoon of Knowledge/Value coffee mornings. The aim of this series is to allow Mná@UCC Women’s Network to provide a networking space amongst members as well as for their members to share something from their own professional development roles (a teaspoon of knowledge/value) that may support others, and that others can learn from.

The network committee is also involved in related EDI research, for example, Mná@UCC committee members, Chair Dr. Siobhán Lucey (Economics) and Deputy Chair (Academic Staff) Dr. Siobhán Lucey (Dentistry) are researchers on the HEA funded joint project with RCSI and TUD titled “LIBRA – Future Proofing Gender Equality in Higher Education Institutions – Experiential Learning in Simulation for Student Leaders”.

As the network continues to grow and become more established, Mná@ UCC are working with other women’s networks (e.g. Network Cork, Tyndall Empowering Women etc.) to investigate future collaborations, speakers and funding opportunities.

Mná Pivoting, Excello Coaching & Facilitation

Sanctuary Fellowship Scheme Announced

Through this scheme scholars and staff members from universities, and other third level institutes outside of Ireland, who are at risk as a result of conflict or other serious human rights violations, can apply for a six month fellowship in UCC. It is the first fellowship of its kind in Ireland’s higher education sector. Under the fellowship UCC will provide six fellows with a support package including a start-up grant and a monthly salary for six months. Each fellow will also be linked to a UCC mentor, who will act as a focal point to provide social and professional support on a peer-to-peer basis.

The announcement was made at UCC’s April graduation ceremony. “In Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen, millions of people are currently displaced as a result of war, conflict and human rights violations. As an academic institution and a University of Sanctuary, UCC has an obligation to provide support and protection to our colleagues from other third level institutions in countries facing such threats” Professor John O’Halloran, President of UCC stated in a speech to graduates.

All applications for the Sanctuary Fellowships will be reviewed by a dedicated sub-group of the UCC University of Sanctuary Working Group. Further details on the fellowship and the application process can be found on ucc.ie/ukraineresponse/

Dr Dug Cubie, chair of the UCC University of Sanctuary Working Group said:

New short course for displaced Ukrainian students

“The support and solidarity shown by UCC staff and students to refugees and scholars at risk over the past few months has been an inspiration, and reflects the fundamental importance of UCC as a University of Sanctuary”,

UCC’s Adult Continuing Education (ACE) centre has launched a new short course for displaced Ukrainian students recently arrived in Ireland. “An Introduction to Student Life in Ireland” covers subjects such as Life in Ireland for a Young Adult, Ireland, politics and society and getting sorted: communications in services. Course dates are 19 April - 2 June. Delete “The course will run from 19th April-2nd June.

“These initiatives, combined with our Sanctuary Scholarships, are powerful ways in which UCC is seeking to foster a culture of welcome and inclusion in our society for all those seeking sanctuary. We look forward to working with Government and philanthropic partners to enable us to sustain and extend these supports” stated Professor John O’Halloran, President of UCC.

In response to conflicts across the world, in April 2022, UCC announced a new Sanctuary Fellowship Scheme scheme.

Vigil Held in Memory of Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee

On Monday 25 April, UCCSU held a vigil on campus in memory of Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee. Members of the UCC LGBT+ Staff Network and Allies also joined the Cork Vigil in Bishop Lucey Park, one of many mass gatherings across the country earlier this month held to mark their lives and passing, and to stand in solidarity together against LGBTQI+ based violence and all hate crimes. We extend our deepest sympathies and stand in solidarity with families, friends and colleagues. Hatred, discrimination and violence have no place in society.

Áine Hyland Honoured by UCC

In April, UCC dedicated a room (formerly G12) in The Hub as the “Áine Hyland Room” in recognition of Áine’s significant contribution to the advancement of Irish education at all levels including HE.

Áine Hyland, Professor Emerita Professor of Education and former VicePresident of UCC, has been one of the most influential figures in Irish education over the past 50 years. Áine earned her PhD in Trinity College Dublin and after serving initially as a civil servant in the Department of Education she later worked as Admissions Officer in Carysfort College, Senior Lecturer in University College Dublin (UCD), Professor and Chair of Education at University College Cork (UCC) from 1993 until 2006, and Vice-President of UCC from 1999 to 2006.

Together with a number of colleagues at UCC, she set up Ionad Bairre – the Centre for Teaching and Learning – afterwards renamed CIRTL - the Centre for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning. In the early 2000s, she introduced the President’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching as well as the Certificate, Diploma and Masters in Teaching and Learning. She was a strong advocate for recognising teaching as a form of scholarship and for ensuring that there was parity of esteem in UCC’s strategies and policies for teaching and research.

A founding member of the Dalkey School Project, the State’s first state-aided Educate Together primary school, in 1978, Áine has been a member of various education boards and commissions in Ireland and internationally, and has published widely on various aspects of education including teacher education and equity of access and participation. A recipient of several honorary doctorates in recognition of her impact on all levels of Irish education, she is since 2018 a Member of the Royal Irish Academy, Ireland’s highest academic honour. Since her retirement in 2006, she has continued to be actively involved in educational activities both in Ireland and abroad.

Áine Hyland Honoured by UCC

HIGHLIGHT STORY

Women from the Traveller Community Graduate from ‘life-changing’ UCC course

The Leadership in the Community programme led to 21 women from the Traveller Community graduating having completed a ‘life-changing’ course designed to empower leadership in their community. The programme is a collaboration between ACE, Access, and the School of Applied Social Studies, as well as a variety of Traveller organisations. The Traveller women were included in the programme development stages, ensuring their needs and aspirations were implemented in the course design. The course was designed by Travellers for Travellers, and lectures were delivered at an outreach centre, by Travellers and by lecturers previously known to the women through their engagement with Traveller organisations. All programme team members are acutely aware of the challenges that women of the Traveller community face. This led to a safe environment, giving the women a sense of belonging and acceptance. Following the successful delivery of the programme, the Programme Coordinator, Dr Patricia McGrath, secured funding for ACE from Travellers of North Cork to conduct research into the barriers that Travellers face when accessing education.

Anne Burke of the Southern Traveller Health Network said the course will be life-changing for those who took part. She said,

“The course covers issues such as education, accommodation, and healthtopics that are statistically poor for the community. We need people within the community to show leadership, and this empowers them to do that. “This course will change lives. The rate of second level education among Travellers is atrocious, so to have these women avail of third level education is life-changing - not just for them but for their families and their wider communities,”

Anne paid tribute to the women graduating today for juggling their daily lives with the part-time course, all in the middle of an unprecedented pandemic.

“Here we have women who never benefited from education but who had the ability to go on and achieve this. It shows that people, with the right support, can achieve things.”

First graduates of the Leadership in the Community programme, UCC

Traveller Equality & Justice Project

The Traveller Equality and Justice Project was awarded EU funding from January 2021-March 2023 under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme. Over the first half of 2021 the project focused on recruiting staff and developing and consolidating links with key partners including six Cork/Kerry based Traveller Projects and FLAC.

In September 2021 the Traveller Legal clinic was formally established within the Law School recruiting thirteen students to work with the project. Students were drawn from a range of law degrees (both undergraduate and postgraduate). Showing a great level of commitment and ability, during the academic year the students worked on case summaries, undertook Traveller Cultural Awareness Training and participated in seminars from a range of excellent speakers including the Former Chief Justice Frank Clarke, leading barrister Marc Willers QC, Eithne Lynch - Pro Bono Associate A&L Goodbody LLP, Chris McCann - FLAC Traveller Legal Unit, and Gavin Sheridan - CEO Vizlegal.

The project, with the assistance of student researchers, launched the Traveller Law Database in April 2022 . The resource provides a searchable research database containing relevant precedents on Traveller law in areas such as discrimination and accommodation.

At the heart of its work, the Clinic has been providing information and supports to Travellers who have suffered discrimination. In operation for over a year, the clinic is currently supporting over forty cases and the work continues to grow. This work operates in cooperation with a small number of lawyers who are committed to supporting the clinic and who take cases for us to the Workplace Relations Commission and the District Court.

The project was pleased to launch its report ‘Barriers to Justice for Travellers Seeking to Challenge Discrimination: Mapping Traveller ‘Rediscrimination’ within the Equality System’ in May 2022. The event was opened by Senator Eileen Flynn and formally launched by Director of the Fundamental Rights Agency of the EU Professor Michael O’Flaherty. The TEJP is now building further on that research examining the operation of Ireland’s equality system as experienced

by Traveller complainants. Data gathering is ongoing in this area and new research should be published before the end of the current project cycle in March 2023.

Finally, the TEJP was delighted to participate in the raising of the Traveller Pride flag over UCC’s quad as part of the Traveller Pride 2021 celebrations as well as facilitating the launch of the Traveller Ally & Proud campaign sticker at the Glucksman Gallery. The granting of an inaugural Traveller Ally award by Cork Traveller Women’s Network and the Traveller Visibility Group (two project partners) in February 2022 was a particular highlight of the year. This award recognised TEJP’s ongoing work with Travellers in the area of equality law. The project continues to grow and as they look forward to a new academic year and the recruitment of new students.

Rejuvenate Graduation

Rejuvenate is a highly successful EDI programme designed to support women who have taken a career break and who face significant structural, practical and psychological obstacles as they return to paid employment. Starting in 2019, with funding from Taste 4 Success, Dr Joanne Uí Chrualaoich and Caroline Seacy, Management and Marketing, designed an innovative programme to help women build their confidence and learn practical job-hunting skills and on 8 March 2022, they proudly began their fifth Rejuvenate programme.

Ninety-five women have completed this inspiring course and almost 75% of the first three Rejuvenate groups have returned to paid employment, which is significantly above industry norms for such initiatives. Food Vision 2030, the ten-year strategy for the Irish agri-food sector, highlighted Rejuvenate at UCC as an example of the type of programme required to increase female participation in the agri-food labour force, and promote and improve gender balance at all levels.

At the May graduation ceremony, Minister Simon Harris commented:

“What is unique about the Rejuvenate Programme is that women’s needs are placed at the core of its design, offering an innovative, tailored, learning and development programme. It’s inspiring. My department and the Government are determined to learn from all of you, and to learn from all that you have achieved, to build on it and to ensure that we can extend your success to many others.”

International Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)

19 May was International Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). GAAD aims to get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about digital inclusion and accessibility. Inclusive UCC ran a Symposium to celebrate GAAD and to spotlight the value of creating inclusive digital experiences for all. The day celebrated the excellent work happening within UCC to support digitally inclusive teaching, learning, and assessment experiences.

James Northridge, Olive Byrne, Asha Woodhouse, Dr Dónal Fitzpatrick, Prof.john O’Halloran, Clare Thomson, Prof. Stephen Byrne, Sinéad Roche, Photo By Thomás Tyner UCC

HIGHLIGHT STORY

UCC ETHICAL HIRING GUIDELINES & COVID-19 SURVEY OF STAFF

Gender & Precarious Work – Ethical Hiring Guidelines

There is increasing concern about rising numbers of precariously employed workers in Higher Education globally. Precarious work practices undermine quality, continuity and collegiality and pose a threat to organizational stability.

While precarity and casualisation are issues for both male and female staff, data globally shows a marked gender difference in both the concentration of women in temporary work and the length of time they are trapped in temporary work. In 2019, of those in part-time employment, 73.8% were women.

Identified as a priority issue for 2020-2022, the Equality Committee established a Working Group to gather data across the university on both the numbers and hiring practices around Hourly Paid Occasional Staff. This data is envisaged to form the basis for a set of Ethical Hiring Guidelines, a commitment by the institution under Athena Swan (Actions 4.1.1 and 4.1.2) These actions specifically respond to the need for greater clarity regarding the volume of hourly occasional staff employed in UCC and the need for a set of guidelines which define and seek to end the excessive and inappropriate use of hourly occasional staff contracts.

Following a pilot project undertaken in the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences (CACSSS), a set of draft guidelines and recommendations were issued. These have been presented at the Athena Swan Steering Group and the pilot project is currently being rolled out in the other three Colleges.

Covid-19 Survey of Staff

This initiative was jointly developed by UCC’s Equality Committee (Prof. Nuala Finnegan, Chair), Academic Staff Development Committee (Prof. Louise Crowley, Chair), Ms. Mary O’Rourke (OVPTL, UCC LGBT+ Staff Network) and UCC’s EDI Unit staff (Ms. Ann King and Ms. Madison Bick). Its aim was to survey all UCC staff on the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on working life and it explored many aspects of the experience of working during the pandemic, from physical work environment, workload, and experience of new work practices, to staff views on how University leaders have managed the crisis, its impacts on equality in UCC and views on options for future remote and oncampus work arrangements. UCC staff community were invited by the President to share their own experiences and views to inform future University policies and practices.

The survey was for all staff employed by the University, in all roles including those colleagues who work part-time, or on hourly occasional contracts.

The summary results of the survey were communicated to all staff by Professor Ciara Heavin (Interim Chair, Equality Committee, 2021). For the university, it was critical to capture the experience of staff during the extreme circumstances of the pandemic, for many. Actions in the key priority areas have been identified and are advancing as part of the UCC Pivot (2020-2022). This will continue throughout the consultation for the Strategic Plan (2023-2027).

Equality Committee Graphic & survey

Forgotten: The Widows of the Rebellion Documentary Screening

On 19 May Forgotten: The Widows of the Rebellion, a documentary about the wives of the leaders executed in 1916 was aired on RTÉ One.

Professor Lindsey Earner-Byrne, UCC Department of History who co-produced the documentary observed:

Tyndall Rounds Out a Year of EDI activities

Tyndall’s EDI related activities through 2021/22 were far-reaching and included:

Athena SWAN Submission

Trans Awareness Training Cultural Awareness Training

Unconscious Bias Training EWAT Newsletter

“Since I started working as a historian, I have been motivated by seeking out the voices that do not tend to make it into the history books. Recently I co-wrote and presented a documentary with Ciara Hyland of Wonder Pics on the lives of the widows of the 1916 Rising. We sought to use their experiences as a prism through which to consider what happened to all widows at a time when, worldwide, millions of new widows were created due to years of conflict. Inclusive historical narratives are an important part of the EDI process. It is important that our history represents our diverse past.”

UCC-COH Autistic Theatre Artist in Residence announced

Cork Opera House and University College Cork Department of Theatre announced earlier this year a Theatre Artist in Residence Programme, providing a bursary of €20,000 to a professional theatre artist who identifies as autistic/person with autism. We are delighted that Jody O’Neill will be the Cork Opera House – UCC Theatre Artist in Residence for 2022-23. Jody O’Neill is an autistic writer and actor for theatre and screen.

Inspiring Leader Presentation

“Inclusiveness at Tyndall” Survey Result Published

Professional Skills Program for Women Research Leaders

Empowering Women Development Program

Food Culture at Tyndall presentation Autism Awareness Workshop International Woman Day Culture Day

For more in EDI in Tyndall, see here: https://www. tyndall.ie/equality_-diversity-and-inclusion

Bernadette Guiney, Tyndall:

“What I value about EDI in Tyndall is that it enhances innovation and collaboration, along with giving each employee a bigger sense of belonging in the Tyndall family.

The challenge I see is trying to identify new initiatives that encourage full engagement and buy-in from all staff and students.”

Jody O’Neill, Cork Opera House

Tyndall Fairy Tales

LIBRA Pilot in UCC

Representatives from Mná@UCC and the EDI Unit and partners from RCSI join LIBRA actors and participants at the UCC ASSERT Centre. The LIBRA (balance) project, funded through the HEA’s Gender Equality Enhancement Fund, seeks to future-proof gender equality in Irish Higher Education leadership by working with the student leaders (men, women and gender non-binary) to address biases and accelerate culture change. It is a partnership project between UCC (Mná@UCC, EDI Unit, ASSERT Centre), RCSI and TU Dublin. This project aims to develop gender equality-based leadership training for student leaders through simulation technology, which is used to create experiential and cooperative learning opportunities. 16 June saw the pilot of LIBRA Gender Equality project in UCC. Thank you to Mná@UCC, the ASSERT Centre for the use of their state-of-the art facilities, the acting students from the Department of Theatre & Film Studies who so ably and expertly handled the simulated scenes, and to the student participants who took part in the training on the day.

A Story from Home Mural Installation

Two large-scale murals will be simultaneously installed in locations in Cork city and county, speaking to the presence and absence of the migrant community in rural and urban Ireland. Through a series of creative sessions at the Glucksman, the artist Joe Caslin worked with a group of 35 women from diverse backgrounds to explore their understanding of home. The

participants were given the opportunity to share their experiences, finding connections with other members of the group and exploring creative ways that their stories could be represented.

The School of Pharmacy unveils rainbow colours on its entrance stairway

School of Pharmacy representatives gather at the new rainbow steps. The colours reflect the School‘s ongoing commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for their diverse student body, staff, and partners. The unveiling of this feature during Pride month was attended by some of the School’s professional pharmacy colleagues who support the delivery of their pharmacy programme.

The initiative was coordinated by the School’s Equality Committee and is part of its goal to promote a culture of equality diversity and inclusion within the School of Pharmacy, UCC, Pharmacy Education, and the wider Pharmacy Profession.

Participants in UCC Libra Pilot

Rainbow Stairway, Pharmacy Building

Mural of Fadi Salamah by Joe Caslin in Cork City Centre

HIGHLIGHT STORY

UCC Becomes an Official Sponsor of Cork LGBT+ Pride Festival 2022

UCC was proud to join as an official sponsor of the annual Cork LGBT+ Pride Festival for the first time in July 2022. The Festival took place this year from 23 to 31 July. We look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration.

On 26 June, the university held its inaugural Together With Pride Afternoon Tea party in the Honan Plaza, an event introduced to our university’s calendar to afford our entire community an opportunity to come together in celebration and support of our LGBT+ community.

Music was provided by Black Tie Swing, and teas, coffees, rainbow cupcakes, ice-cream and facilitated arts and crafts activity were on offer. The Honan Plaza was resplendent in rainbow colours to mark the occasion. The Progress Pride flag also flew from the top of the Quad for the first time - an honour previously reserved for the national flags of visiting dignitaries.

Dr Avril Hutch, Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion welcomed over two hundred guests to the event and thanked the many people involved in bringing the event together, noting that this event was a wonderful example of staffstudent partnership.

Addressing the crowd, UCC President John O’Halloran also paid tribute to the many students and staff who brought the event together.

Prof O’Halloran said:

“Here at UCC, we have a long history of supporting and championing our LGBT+ colleagues and students, with the first LGBT+ staff and student networks in an Irish university established here in the 1980s,”

Since then, we have celebrated the creation of the LGBT+ Ally Programme, we became the first university to fly the Trans flag, and one of the first to install a rainbow walkway on a university campus. While we mark these important high-profile events, it is the quiet community building and advocacy work that our LGBT+ colleagues, students and allies engage in that is most important. We want to ensure that our engagement is meaningful and impactful as possible all year round. This is part of who we are as an institution and EDI is and will continue to be core to university life here in UCC.

“I also want to take a moment to acknowledge that while we have come a long way as a nation and as a university, there is more that we must and can do to support the LGBT+ community and the intersecting community identities within that group. It is upsetting to witness the rise in homophobia and transphobia over the past year, and underlines why it is even more important to come together like this to raise awareness and stand with our LGBT+ staff and students,”

Student Union Education Representative Stephen O’ Riordan and Student Societies President Mair Kelly also spoke about the importance of remembering that Pride has its origins in protest and the need to continue to support and advance LGBT+ rights.

Dr Fiachra Ó Súilleabháin, Co-Chair of the LGBT+ Staff Network highlighted the recent successes of the Network, including the Lesbian lives conference in March, and the ongoing work of the LGBT + Staff Network in supporting and advancing LGBT+ awareness and understanding on campus and beyond.

Dr Hutch closed the event by inviting colleagues and students to join the UCC contingent for the Pride Parade, to be held on Sunday 30 July at 1 pm. All welcome.

Work With Pride Conference

Work with Pride, sponsored by IBEC, took place on 28 July in Cork City Hall. UCC Director of EDI Dr Avril Hutch chaired a panel discussion on the important of EDI in the workplace with panellists from Apple, Stryker and Johnson & Johnson. Dr Amanullah De Sondy delivered a keynote address on the importance of countering and addressing racism in Ireland and the intersecting identities which define Irish society.

Cork Pride Parade

On 30 July, UCC Vice-President and Registrar Stephen Byrne joined staff and students from the LGBT+ Staff Network, LGBTQ+ Society, Student Union, EDI Unit and LGBT+ Allies group to walk in Cork Pride Parade.

AUGUST 2022

EDI@UCC Art Exhibition 2022 – Expression of Interest

In September, UCC launched its first UCC EDI Art Festival. Young artists with a connection to UCC were invited to submit artwork exploring the theme of equality, diversity and inclusion. The artwork will be showcased at a special exhibition at this year’s Equality Week. We look forward to sharing images at a later date.

EDI Related Education Projects

AURORA

The AURORA project (Drs Stephen O’Brien and Catherine O’Mahony) aims to develop EDI modules with student teachers in Europe and South East Asia (India and Nepal). This Erasmus + consortium project will create a programme for Curricular Reform in these jurisdictions that will promote inclusive education through teacher training programs at BA/MA levels by developing new courses in educational programmes, faculty and teacher workshops, student leadership training and student activities to foster gender equality, democratic values and combat radicalism to be applied from early stages in the school in order to work towards more inclusive societies.

Id Est (Ubuntu Project)

Academic Year 2022-23 Preparations

Significant work takes place across the summer to prepare for new and returning students. EDI has been part of orientation since 2020. A joint Active*Consent/Bystander module will also be offered to incoming students.

Nóirín Deady, First Year Coordinator:

“Transition activities such as Orientation and Freshers’ Fest create an inclusive environment where equality is upheld, and diversity respected - these are fundamental to building a sense of belonging. Once students feel that they belong to the university community, they will realise their full potential.

This involves an ongoing commitment to a process of critical reflective practice with the aim of ensuring all students are welcomed, valued, and respected.”

‘Id Est’: Integrating Development Education into Student Teacher Practice, is a small but important project run by the School of Education UCC. It is led by Dr Stephen O’Brien at the School of Education and Dr Gertrude Cotter of the Praxis Project, Centre for Global Development, UCC. ‘Id Est’ is aimed at Professional Masters in Education (PME) students who are training to become secondary school teachers. ‘Id Est’ is funded by Ubuntu Network which is an Irish Aid funded network of teacher educators. Ubuntu actively promotes that Development Education be embedded into post-primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in Ireland.

New Avenues to Teaching

New Avenues to Teaching (NAT) is a project led by the School of Education in UCC under the HEA’s Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH). The project is also supported by UCC Access. Strand 1 of the PATH funding is focused on Initial Teacher Education and the objectives of this strand are to: a) increase the number of students from under-represented groups entering initial teacher education and b) provide more role models for students from these groups, demonstrating that there are pathways open to them to realise their potential through education.

This funding is provided to improve the participation and retention of students from groups that are currently under-represented in Initial Teacher Education.

HIGHLIGHT STORY

MINdDS programme in UCC

Dr Eva McMullen (Music Dept.) along with her team has been running the MINdDS programme in UCC since 2019. The MINdDS research project (Music as an Intervention in the Neurological development of children with Down Syndrome) is an innovative and exciting interdisciplinary research project based in University College Cork, funded by the College of Medicine and Health (CoMH).

The project brings together academic researchers from the diverse fields of music, neuroscience and psychology in a study to assess the cognitive and neuro-biological effects of a specially designed music programme on children with Down Syndrome. At the core of the MINdDS project is ‘celebrating ability’, which is believed to be a powerful tool which enhances learning and supports further development of ability.

The study developed out of Eva and primary school teacher, Padraig Wallace’s Music4Children, which runs on Saturdays and which celebrates music learning through fun and creativity, builds confidence and encourages independent thinking. UCC students are often found volunteering their time and skills at these classes. MINdDS and Music4Children both explore teaching and music as therapeutic practices, bridging the gap between traditional teaching practice and music therapy.

Grace Campbell, student volunteer at Music4Children:

“I have graduated this year with a BA Music and Gaeilge. I approached Eva with a keen interest in this area and she offered the opportunity to help out on Saturdays. The most rewarding aspect was seeing the progress in the children after the weeks went by, the children gradually learnt more material through the vocabulary and the different actions in the songs. I also really enjoyed seeing how much the children loved

it, every week there was plenty of smiling and laughs. I liked the way it brought people together a lot of these children didn’t go to the same school, so it allowed them to share a space together. It was nice to see parents having a space to chat and share similar experiences.

I enjoyed gaining experience in this area, it gave me plenty of teaching experience and material to use in the future. I appreciated the variety in each lesson. With each lesson came different personalities and different approaches to the activities. I found it really interesting observing the children’s behaviours in this way.

I found it really rewarding each week gaining a connection with the children. They would often come up to you smiling or hand you an instrument. This was rewarding as I felt like a role model to them.

One of the challenges was making the commitment of coming each week I wanted to be there every week as I enjoyed it but it was hard to balance this on top of studies.

I found it challenging at first to understand the environment. I have never worked with this age group before. There was often a lot of noise and free play. This took getting used to, I learned to lean into it and let the children enjoy what they desired in the session. I also found it difficult when the child would arrive and feel overwhelmed by the room of people. I felt real empathy for them. It was hard to see them leave if they found it too much as I knew they would’ve loved the activities we had in store. Overall, the programme goes above and beyond to help the development of the children and it was a really valuable experience for me.”