Athena SWAN at SETU
SETU Carlow is delighted to announce that it has been awarded the international Athena SWAN Bronze Award by AdvanceHE in recognition of our work in advancing gender equality in academia, and in promoting diversity and inclusion for staff and students in higher education.
Welcoming the announcement, Dr Patricia Mulcahy, President, said
“This is a highly significant achievement, placing the Institute amongst the first in the Technological Sector to achieve this award, and amongst the first in the higher education sector to achieve the award under the expanded Athena SWAN Charter. Achieving this award under the expanded charter is particularly noteworthy as it recognises a commitment across the Institute to addressing gender equality challenges in higher education more broadly, including, but not limited to, those experienced by women.”
The Athena SWAN Charter was first launched in Ireland in 2015 in a major national initiative supported by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). This was underpinned by the HEA National Review of Gender Equality in Higher Education Institutions 2016, which showed that there was significant gender inequality in Irish higher education institutions. Building on this review, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, T.D and Minister for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor, T.D, launched the Gender Equality Action Plan for Higher Education Institutions 2018-2020 in November 2018, which aims to accelerate progress towards gender equality in the universities and institutes of technology.
“This achievement is founded first and foremost on our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Policy which sets out our commitment to the principles and promotion of equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of institutional activity.This is not about political correctness, but is grounded in our belief that EDI is the key to growth and prosperity, from both an educational and societal perspective,” said Dr Mulcahy. “This award has come at an important time in our development as we progress our plans towards the establishment of the Technological University of South East Ireland. I extend my thanks and congratulations to everyone who has contributed to the achievement of this award, with particular thanks extended to the leadership provided by Dr Allison Kenneally, Director for the Office of EDI, our cross-Institutional Self-Assessment Team (SAT) and our EDI Steering Group.”
Important elements of successful institutional Athena SWAN applications have been documented by AdvanceHE and include, inter alia, strong evidenced-based institutional self-evaluations, broad and inclusive consultation, and smart action plans with measurable targets and baselines. This resulted in an Institute-specific gender equality action plan with 68 actions, many of which are already being progressed across the college.
The EDI Steering Committee
The role of the Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity Steering Committee is to oversee and provide guidance and direction for the achievement of equality, diversity and inclusion objectives across the Institute. The EDI Steering Committee consists of:
Name | Role in SETU Carlow |
Dr. Patricia Mulcahy | President |
Ms. Maebh Maher | Head of Faculty of Business & Humanities |
David Denieffe | Vice President of Academic Affairs |
Dr. David Ryan | Director of the Office of Institutional Planning & Research |
Dr. Allison Kenneally | Director of the Office of Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity |
Dr. Brian Jackson | Head of Postgraduate Studies |
Dr. Yvonne Kavanagh | Assistant Registrar |
Athena SWAN Self-Assessment Team (SAT)
The Athena SWAN Self-Assessment Team (SAT) consists of the following staff members representing a wide variety of areas across the college. Membership of the SAT is detailed below-
Kenneally, Allison Dr | Director of EDI | Academic |
Allen, Dave Dr | Lecturer Faculty of Engineering | Academic |
Bolger, Maura | Senior Technical Officer (Audio Visual) | PMSS |
Byrne, Rachel | Human Resources Officer | PMSS |
Clarke, Sarah | Faculty of Science Administrator | PMSS |
Coady, Áine | Administrator | PMSS |
Collins, Joseph | Head of Faculty LLL Representative | SET Member |
Culliton, Dave Dr | Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering | Academic |
Davies, Janette Dr | Deputy Head of Wexford Campus | Academic |
Doyle Walsh, Eileen Dr | Head of Department of Humanities | Academic |
Gartland, Aisling | Postgraduate Research Student | Student |
Gleeson, Michael | Lecturer, Wexford Campus | Academic |
Kavanagh, Darren Dr | Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering | Academic |
McCrea, Niamh, Dr | Lecturer, Faculty of Business & Humanities | Research/Academic |
McNally, Donal | Director of Sport | PMSS |
Meade, Chitra Dr | Lecturer, Faculty of Business & Humanities | Academic |
Moyne, Martina | Lecturer, Faculty of Business & Humanities | Academic |
Nolan, Cathal Dr | Head of Department, AME Engineering | Academic |
Power, Clare Dr | Quality Assurance & Collaborations Officer | PMSS |
Purcell, Gemma | Business Development Engineer | PMSS |
Richardson, Noel Dr | Lecturer, Director Centre for Men's Health | Research/Academic |
Scully, Stephen Dr | Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering | Academic |
Sheridan, Róisín | Students Union Welfare Officer | Student |
Tobin, Edmond Dr | Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering | Academic |
White, PJ Dr | Lecturer Faculty of Business & Humanities | Academic/Research |
Further details are available from Dr. Allison Kenneally, Director of the Office of Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity and Athena SWAN leader at t: 059-9175044 or at Athena.Swan@setu.ie
You can also follow activities and events at @EDI_SETU and Carlow’s Athena Swan twitter @ITCAthenaSwan