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Mná@UCC ‘Teaspoon of Value’ Networking Event: "Maintaining a Global Perspective When You Can’t Leave Home!"

16 Dec 2021

On Dec 16 Mná@UCC hosted their third virtual Teaspoon of Value. The aim of this series is to allow Mná@UCC Women’s Network provide a networking space amongst members as well as for our members to share something from their own professional development roles (a teaspoon of value!) that may support others, and that others can learn from.

Ms. Emma Connolly, International Office in UCC, and founding member of Mná UCC Women’s Network spoke about the value of global reach, and how every staff member - professional services, academic and research – plays a part in UCC's success in global reach. We all sustain partnerships, be that by direct interaction with international students and partners, or indirectly supporting the positive experience they have while studying or working with us.

Emma spoke of her long interest in cultural exchange and two decades of work in International Higher Education. She enjoys many aspects of current role as part of the Strategy team in IO, which affords her the opportunity to represent the IO on cross functional groups including Academic Strategy Priority One WG, working with Dr Armida de la Garza on Global Reach, one of the 6 elements of UCC’s Connected Curriculum.

Evidence of Global Reach can be found in its many forms across UCC community, as the value of intercultural education happens overtly and in the hidden curricula.  Students of all nationalities learn so much from various International student societies, and the wider community benefit from internationalisation, economically and culturally, with many of the echoed in Cork’s pride of being UNESCO Learning City.

Specific to gender, Emma noted the fact that most staff in IO offices (in UCC and many other places) are women, and that much of her work related to Priority 1 is with a female team - Cliona Maher and Armida de la Garza. 

An invigorating discussion brought up examples of how internationalisation at home feeds into broader EDI agenda and some new ideas were hatched – watch this space!

Emma left attendees to ponder over the festive season how they can apply Global Reach to their own practice.

Mná@UCC would like to wish all in our UCC Community, nationally and globally, a very Merry Christmas.

Nollaig Shona ó Mná.

For more on this story contact:

mna@ucc.ie

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Unit

Comhionannas, Éagsúlacht agus Ionchuimsitheacht

South Lodge, College Road, University College, Cork, T12 RXA9

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