EDI Events

EDI Events at TUS

Welcome to our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion events page. Here you will find details of past and, immediately below, upcoming EDI events at TUS.

TUS Pride Week 2023

TUS celebrates Pride Week next week from March 20th - 24th. The LGBT+ & Allies Staff Network is proud to support a range of events, including talks, awareness-raising campaigns and the opportunity to join their growing network. Please see the full schedule of Staff Events below.

"Taking Care of Us & Them!"

Self-Care for Parents and Steps to Support Gender Diverse Families

Aoife Ryan

MS Teams - Tuesday 21st March @ 13:15

This 30-minute talk will focus on how staff who are parents of gender diverse children and/or adolescents can best respond to their child or adolescent's needs and support them with compassion. The talk will focus on how parents can take care of themselves as they accompany their children on their journey. Supporting gender diverse children and adolescents can feel overwhelming or lonely for parents. This talk will suggest ways in which parents can keep a focus on their own experiences, as well as compassionately responding to the needs of their children. Time will be provided for anonymous questions. Aoife works therapeutically as a Relationship Mentor/Adolescent Therapist and offers clients a safe space where they can explore all aspects of self, both their relationship with self and relationships with others around them.

Join Meeting Here

LGBT+ & Allies Staff Network Information & Sign-up

Multicampus - Tuesday 21st March

Why not come along & chat with members of the LGBT+ & Allies Staff Network on Tuesday 21st March? We will have information stands on multiple campuses, including on The Street in Moylish from 10am - 1pm, Athlone Main Reception Area from 12pm - 1pm, LSAD Clare Street from 1pm - 2pm, and Thurles campus from 10am - 12pm. You can find out more about the work the Staff Network is doing on allyship, awareness-raising and supporting the LGBT+ & Allies community in TUS. New members welcome! You can also join this Staff Network via the link or QR code below:

Join the Network

Have your Say!

We need your help! Have your say on a New Logo for the TUS LGBT+ & Allies Staff Network. In this short poll, you can tell us which one you like the most, and rate all designs in order from your favourite to least favourite. This poll is open to staff and students. Click on the link or QR code below to cast your votes. Thanks so much for your participation!

Click Here to Vote

Pronouns Awareness Day

(All Campuses)

Wednesday 22nd March

On Wednesday 22nd March, the LGBT+ & Allies Staff Network will raise awareness about gender pronouns and what they mean in basic terms, with slides on LCD screens across our campuses and an accompanying social media campaign. Feel free to ask us about this at our information stands on Tuesday too. We will be glad to speak with you about this area.

Supporting Gender Diversity in a Third Level Setting

Patrick McElligott

MS Teams - Friday 24th March @ 13:15

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Patrick McElligott, Gender and Orientation Therapist at GOSHH will give a short 30 minute talk on ways in which gender diverse people such as those who are Trans, non-binary, gender fluid, etc, can be supported in a third level setting. Patrick will look at common terminology and concepts relating to this as well as information around how gender diversity can be maintained to ensure all students are respected.

Join Meeting Here

2023

International Women's Day

International Women's Day was celebrated in TUS on 8th March 2023. The theme was Embrace Equity.

Introducing: TUS Women's Network

MS Teams

The EDI office was delighted to support the introduction of the new TUS Staff Women’s Network in an online event on Teams to kick off International Women's Day. Attendees had the chance to meet and hear from the founding committee members, and learn how they could be a part of an exciting and rewarding community of TUS women.

Purple Coffee Morning

Multiple Campuses

Following a very successful meeting of the new TUS Women's Network, the EDI office facilitated Purple Coffee Mornings across our TUS campuses to celebrate International Womens Day as a community. Wearing purple was encouraged!

Bantracht

Moylish Staff Canteen

‘Bantracht’ is an exhibition hosted by members of Mná na nEalain group in Limerick. It features works from former LSAD graduates. The title ‘Bantracht’ translates from the Irish ‘womenkind’ or ‘womenfolk’– the central theme of this exhibition.

As part of the International Women's Day celebrations in TUS, this exhibition was displayed in the Moylish Staff Canteen while the Purple Coffee Morning was taking place there.

“Inspiring Kindness & Self-Acceptance” Online Workshop

MS Teams

TUS Midwest Student Counselling Service Mental Health & Wellbeing Officer Teresa Fahy ran an online workshop for women, ‘Inspiring kindness & Self-Acceptance', at lunchtime on International Women’s Day to celebrate and support all women, students and staff.

It Was Her

Thurles Conference Centre

The Department of Information Technology invited guest speaker Brenda Romero from Romero Games to deliver a talk entitled “It was Her”. The talk happened on International Women's Day and took place on TUS Thurles campus as part of the 20th Anniversary Games Fleadh festival.

The BAFTA award-winning Game Designer gave an amazing talk to a full theatre of secondary school students and TUS staff and students. The highly engaging talk highlighted the role of women in Technology and Computer Science, particularly in the history of coding.

A Bloody Good Thing - Exhibition Launch

The People's Museum of Limerick

A Bloody Good Thing is a new body of photography and video work produced by the “Women from the Inside’ Collective. It explores menstruation and the diverse number of changes that can happen to a woman's body throughout her lifetime.

"With this exhibition we want women to celebrate menstruation and the changes that will happen to their bodies as it is such a natural and beautiful process. We are showcasing real and unedited women's bodies, from teenagers to women in their 80s, of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds and ethnicities."

The exhibition launched in the People's Museum of Limerick and the exhibition's organisers collaborated with the SU and Period Poverty Awareness to give proceeds towards the provision of period products on TUS campuses. TUS EDI Senior Officer Trish Bourke also gave a wonderful talk at the event.

Considerations for Sportswomen: The Menstrual Cycle and Hormonal Contraceptive Use

MS Teams

To complete our busy IWD schedule, this online talk with Dr Kelly McNulty highlighted some of the key factors for females when it comes to sport and exercise, with a particular focus on the potential effects of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive use on performance, training and recovery.

Dr Kelly McNulty, Postdoctoral researcher at TUS, is developing and evaluating a menopause lifestyle programme including exercise, nutrition, and education. Her PhD focuses on female physiology, investigating the effect of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive use on performance, recovery, and adaptation in sportswomen.

In light of the success and popularity of this event, the SHE Research Group in TUS will post an FAQ section on their website soon which will answer of the most commonly asked questions in this area.

2022

Inspire Women in Engineering

"Inspire" Women in Engineering
(6th December 2022)

The Explore Engineering group welcomed over 350 transition year students to the Millennium Theatre, TUS, on December 6th 2022, for the annual Inspire Women in Engineering event.

Guest speakers included Rahima Ahmed (Rogerson Reddan), Barbara MacCarthy (Johnson & Johnson) and Aoife Prendergast (Analog Devices).These speakers gave powerful testimonies to their varied routes into engineering. A panel discussion was then chaired by Dr Carol Wrenn (TUS) and included Elisabeth O’Brien (TUS), Finola Deavy (TUS), Vanessa Egan (UL) and Daire Davern (Engineering student, UL).

Over 13 schools throughout the Mid-West attended the event, accompanied by Guidance Counsellors and teachers. The students were welcomed by Dr Maria Kyne, Head of Faculty of Engineering, TUS. Prof. Ann Ledwith, Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies, UL and chairperson of Explore Engineering gave the opening address, whereby she encouraged young women present to look at career options in STEM and more specifically, the variety of pathways to Engineering careers. “To date 23% of Engineering graduates are female, which is an increase of 7% since 2016, and we need to continue this upward trajectory.”

The event concluded with a question-and-answer session, covering topics such as subject choice at school, the gender pay gap, travel, and salaries.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2022

International Day of Persons with Disabilities
(3rd December 2022)

The EDI office was proud to support our TUS Community in their Annual Observance of International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Celebrated on December 3rd, here at TUS the occasion was celebrated with online workshops and webinars. The EDI office was delighted to host an online event, Physical Activity for Wheelchair Users, on Wednesday 30th November. This webinar was facilitated by David Fitzgerald (founder of the Munster Wheelchair Hurling and Camogie Club), Carmel McKenna (Graduate Studies Support Officer), and Ellie Sheehy (2^nd year student in Applied Science).

David Fitzgerald, Carmel McKenna, and Ellie Sheehy explained what it is like to be involved in sports and dance as a person with physical disabilities. Well worth watching back and hearing powerful, passionate voices on their journey of overcoming fear to succeed and how they support wheelchair users.

Watch back here:

International Day of Persons with Disabilities- Physical activity for wheelchair users.-20221130_120409-Meeting Recording.mp4
International Men's Day 2022 Webinar w/ Christian Short & Fergus Farrell

To celebrate International Men's Day, the TUS EDI office invited ex-professional rugby players Fergus Farrell and Christian Short for an online chat about men's mental health issues.

If you missed it, you can watch it back here:

Men's Mental Health Webinar w_ Christian Short & Fergus Farrell-20221116_110504-Meeting Recording.mp4

The webinar took place on Wednesday 16th November ahead of this year's International Men's Day (19th Nov). The interview focused on themes such as mental resilience, challenge, the importance of talking, and men's role in gender equality. During the course of the talk, both men recounted some of the defining experiences in their lives which led them to confront these themes, including Fergus' remarkable journey of recovery from a severe spinal injury to crossing the Atlantic in a rowboat.

If you have been affected by any of the topics covered there are supports available. See below.

Student Supports Midwest TUS: https://lit.ie/counselling

Student Supports Midlands TUS: https://www.ait.ie/life-at-ait/student-supports/counselling/

Staff:

Employee Assistance Service Portal Link: https://tusmm.spectrum.life/login?org=TUSMMEAS

Freephone - 1800 814 243

WhatsApp/SMS - Text 'Hi' to 087 369 0010

Email: eap@spectrum.life
Let's Talk Menopause & Health at Work 2022

Let's Talk Menopause & Health at Work

(TUS Athlone Campus - 14th October 2022)

Since 2009, the International Menopause Society (IMS) and World Health Organization (WHO) have designated October as World Menopause Awareness Month. Thirteen years later, it's important that we self-reflect on some key questions; how aware and informed is our workplace? Are we encouraging and facilitating open conversations about menopause? Do staff experiencing menopause feel supported?

To mark World Menopause Day 2022 (18th October), the TUS EDI office collaborated with SHE Research Group to host a seminar on our Athlone campus; Let's Talk Menopause and Health at Work. In addition to the live event in the Douglas Hyde Theatre, we also livestreamed the event on Zoom to over 100 viewers.

In addition to the research shared by SHE Research Group, with a particular focus on health and nutrition around the menopause, two expert speakers were invited to present at the event. Dr Deirdre Forde works full-time in menopause care and treatment, having established her own clinic Ceile Medical in December 2019, whilst Dr Claire Hardy is a chartered psychologist considered one of the world's experts on menopause in the workplace.

In light of the learnings gained during this event, the TUS EDI office is planning further trainings and supports for those experiencing menopause in our workplaces, and is committed to raising awareness on this issue on a continued basis.
TUS Pride Week March 2022

The TUS EDI Office collaborated with TUS Student Union to organise multiple events for students and staff for TUS Pride. This included staff coffee mornings on all campuses to celebrate Pride, discuss allyship and encourage membership of our LGBT+ & Allies Staff Network.

Events for students included movie nights, panel discussions and talks on allyship, transgender awareness and TUS LGBT+ Student Society Information

View our Conversation with Dr Vanessa Lacey for TUS Pride
TUS International Refugee Week March 2022

Refugee Week was celebrated across all TUS campuses from March 21^st – March 25^th 2022 with a focus on welcome, community and solidarity. The week included exhibitions, panel discussions, workshops, lectures and talks, all with the purpose of highlighting the challenges faced by refugees in Ireland and providing a platform for the voice of refugees.

View our event schedule

Vice President of Student Education & Experience, Frances O'Connell, spoke at the launch of TUS International Refugee Week, citing refugee crises as "one of the defining features of our time". Watch her speech here
International Women's Day 8th March 2022

The theme for International Women's Day 2022 was #BreakTheBias.

Keynote Speaker Cllr Uruemu Adejinmi Cathaoirleach of Longford Municipal District, addressed the IWD theme of #Breakthebias, as she talked about her journey from Nigeria to Irish politics

Our LSAD students added their voice to an International Posters Exhibition on Gender-based Inequality, Violence and Discrimination, which was exhibited in the TUS LSAD Gallery.
International Day for Women and Girls in Science

The United Nations designated International Day of Women and Girls in Science provides an opportunity to highlight the continued need for action to ensure the voices of women and girls are heard in the world of science.

See further details here

2021

International Women's Day 2021

In 2021, we shone a spotlight on the Cultural Creative Industry through our partnership with Creative Europe Wom@rts. While women have a crucial role in the Cultural Creative Industry, they are often significantly under represented in high level decision making in this sector and their work is often not valued to the same extent as men’s.

For more information on our 2021 IWD events, click here