On behalf of the Board of Management of the Higher Education Equality Unit, I would like to welcome you all most warmly to this Conference.
We feel that the topic of this Conference is of particular importance. We are especially delighted for this reason to welcome Minister Liz McManus -we are both honoured and delighted that she has agreed to open our Conference.
We are also very pleased that the Conference is being held in Maynooth. The College is represented by the Registrar, Professor Peter Carr and we are very pleased indeed to welcome him as he has been very close to many of the issues being debated today, especially those surrounding non-standard entry procedures. Maynooth is a very fitting place to hold this Conference, as almost uniquely in Irish higher education, it has led the field in making third level awards to members of the Travelling community. Maynooth has also made significant contributions through the work of its Community Adult Education and Anthropology Departments.
Many of the groups represented at the conference have suffered the effects of prejudice and intolerance. Tolerance involves the willingness to respect the rights of others. A tolerant society is one where social institutions and practices allow the expression of diversity while at the same time containing the resulting conflicts of beliefs and practices within peaceful bounds. There is a very close relationship between equality and tolerance. The question must be addressed: "are higher education systems which demonstrate inequality in participation compatible with the concept of tolerance?" These issues raise fundamental questions about the role of universities and colleges in society.
Universities and other institutions of higher education must provide the conditions within which human development may be fostered, and which provide opportunities for all. The promotion of tolerance is an essential part of this. I would like to mention here the work of the Council of Europe over recent years. It has provided an impetus and an inspiration in the fight against intolerance. Indeed, Recommendation 1275 (1995) of the Parliamentary Assembly sums it up. It says that member states should, in their higher education institutions, "promote education and research in a spirit of tolerance and respect for cultural diversity".1
Higher education institutions have a responsibility to empower people from minority backgrounds. We hope that by initiating debates about the participation and experiences of minority groups in higher education at this conference that the Higher Education Equality Unit will both encourage and assist higher education institutions to meet that responsibility.
1: Parlimentary Assembley of the Council of Europe, Recommendation 1275 on the Fight Against Racism, Xenophobia, Anti-Semitism and Intolerance; 1995. Return to Main Text