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Equality Diversity & Inclusion

Athena Swan

bronze athena swan logo small

The Dental School and Hospital is pleased to announce that we have been awarded an Athena SWAN Bronze award in recognition of our commitment to addressing unequal gender representation across the school and promoting an environment of equal opportunities for all.

During a two-year period of intense work on conducting a self-assessment, the AS team identified key issues related to gender equality in the DSH and has proposed an Action Plan to address these.

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee (EDI) will now progress the Athena SWAN agenda and work collaboratively with staff and students to ensure principles of equality, diversity and inclusion are embedded in all aspects of the Dental School’s work.

Below are the Athena SWAN Charter principles, which will guide our works towards gender equality.

Athena SWAN Ireland

The objective of the Athena Swan Ireland 2021 charter framework is to support higher education institutions, academic departments, and professional units in impactful and sustainable gender equality work and to build capacity for evidence-based equality work across the equality grounds enshrined in Irish legislation. 

Please see the Athena SWAN Ireland website for further information.

The 2021 Athena SWAN Charter Framework Principles 

1. adopting robust, transparent, and accountable processes for Athena Swan work, including:

a. embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion in our culture, decision-making and partnerships, and holding ourselves and others in our institution/department/professional unit accountable.

b. ensuring active leadership from senior staff, with those in senior roles at the forefront of taking action, and inspiring and fostering dedication and involvement from staff at all levels.

c. collecting equality monitoring data to measure, understand and publicly report on challenges and progress, taking steps when necessary to support and encourage disclosure.

d. undertaking transparent self-assessment processes to ensure priorities, interventions and actions are evidenced-based and inform our continuous development.

e. distributing tasks appropriately, formally recognising and rewarding work and ensuring there is not a disproportionate burden on underrepresented groups.

2. making and mainstreaming sustainable structural and cultural changes to remedy the effects of structural inequalities and social injustices, which manifest as differential experiences and outcomes for staff and students.

3. tackling behaviours and cultures that detract from the creation of an institutional campus culture that is safe, respectful and supportive, including condemning sexual violence and harassment, bullying, discrimination, unfair treatment, or exploitation of staff, students or partners.

4. addressing unequal gender representation across academic disciplines and professional, managerial and support functions, including examining gendered occupational segregation, and elevating the status, voice, and career opportunities of under-valued and at-risk groups.

5. fostering collective understanding that intersectional inequalities must be accounted for in the development of effective equality analysis and actions.

6. mitigating the equality impacts of short-term and casual contracts for staff seeking sustainable careers.

7. supporting flexibility and the maintenance of a healthy ‘whole life balance’ and mitigating the equality impact of career breaks and caring responsibilities.

8. fostering collective understanding that individuals have the right to determine and affirm their gender, and to implementing inclusive and effective policies and practices that are cognisant of the lived experiences and needs of trans and non-binary people.

Athena Swan Award Letter April 2020

Dental School Bronze Departmental Application Charter June 2020

 

Terms of Reference Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cork University Dental School & Hospital

Wilton, Cork, Ireland,

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