The coffee morning was followed by the raising of the Progress Pride flag by the President on the MTU Bishopstown Campus, with the Chair of EDI Sub-Committee of the Governing Body, Ingrid O’Riordan, Societies Officer, Aoife Kelliher, and EDI Manager, Siobhan Kangataran, also there to support the LGBT+ Students Society Committee. Building on the success of this collaboration, the EDI team worked with colleagues on the EDI Roadshow in April 2023 – a series of events on all our campuses to showcase the many inclusive activities happening across MTU. With representatives from Access, Societies, Students and Staff Unions, our Teaching & Learning Unit, and many more, all supporting the cross-campus connection between our staff and students, proudly wearing and distributing the Progress Pride EDI lanyards for all to represent their support and solidarity. To support the continuous learning and understanding of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, we launched the EDI in Higher Education eLearning module for all staff and students this year, with the additional option of completing the “Let’s talk about race” training. This is supplemented by an introductory session on Gender Identity & Gender Awareness that is available as a self-led training online for all staff to undertake. Adding to the suite of training to support the creation of a safe, respectful campus for all, there is also Active* Consent and Bystander Intervention training available for all staff and students. Combining all our efforts across MTU, we are currently preparing a submission for our first Athena Swan Bronze Award as a new institution, building on the Legacy Award we achieved on the basis of a previous CIT achievement. The new Athena Swan Charter goes far beyond any previous binary concept of gender equality, expressly including our trans and non-binary community to support all our staff and students with achieving their full potential. The extensive application process is being undertaken by staff and student representatives from across all campuses, chaired by Professor Margaret Linehan.
At MTU, we pride ourselves on being a student-centered university, with numerous initiatives implemented across all our campuses to help everyone to feel included and able to achieve their full potential. From policies and procedures to events, training, and awareness-raising; our staff and students work together to collaboratively create safe and respectful campuses that allow us all to achieve our full potential. In February 2023, our NMCI campus in Ringaskiddy installed the first of a series of Rainbow Crossings to be added to all of our MTU campuses. This beautiful, permanent display is intended to be demonstration of solidarity and support for all our staff and students – you are safe and welcome here. Continuing this message of inclusion, the CIPD Ireland event “Dignity & Respect in the new world of work” was hosted by MTU on the 9th March, with a panel discussion that included Don Crowley and Dr. Deirdre O’Donovan, who were instrumental in the development and delivery of the Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace Special Purpose award at MTU. This year saw the launch of our first Festival of LGBT+ Acceptance and Gratitude by the MTU LGBT+ Students Society, in collaboration with the Societies Office and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team at MTU. This inaugural Flag Week was formally launched by our President, Professor Maggie Cusack, at a staff and student coffee morning on Wednesday 22nd March 2023, which was skillfully organised and catered for by our Tourism & Hospitality students. This truly collaborative event was a beautiful showcase of solidarity and support, with a veritable rainbow of flags and decorations to represent and celebrate our LGBT+ community. MTU'S COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY SHINES THROUGH CAMPUS INITIATIVES
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