UCD Vet Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and Athena SWAN Update
The School’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and Athena SWAN (VetEDIAS) Committee organises many events and initiatives which support our agenda of promoting gender equality, diversity and inclusion for all faculty, staff and students. Below, we provide you with updates on some recent and upcoming events and initiatives which have been organised by the VetEDIAS Committee. Find out more about the work of the committee and upcoming events on our website: https://www.ucd.ie/vetmed/about/athenaswan/
Athena SWAN Silver Award Application
Having been awarded an Athena SWAN Bronze Departmental Award in 2019, the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine applied for a Silver Award in January 2024. As part of the award application, the VetEDIAS committee have been reflecting on the hard work put in since the Bronze action plan was established. The Silver Award application includes an impact assessment of this plan, learnings from consultation with staff and students, and sets out a new action plan for the coming four years.
An integral part of the new plan is to foster and deliver an inclusive and supportive environment for all staff and students in the School and Veterinary Hospital. By applying for the Silver Award, the School stands over its commitment to welcome everyone into our community irrespective of gender (including gender identity), age, race, disability, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, civil status, family status, or membership of the travelling community.
Past events:
UCD Celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities Event
On Thursday 7 December, School of Veterinary Medicine representatives joined the UCD Disability Subgroup and UCD Neurodiversity Group for ‘In a Nutshell, Disability and Neurodiversity in UCD’ to learn from experts and advocates on disability and neurodiversity research, initiatives and supports in UCD. They connected with disabled and neurodivergent staff and allies over coffee, to find out more about how we can support and communicate about greater accessibility and inclusion in our work in UCD.
More information is available here: www.ucd.ie/equality/support/disability/internationaldayofpersonswithdisabilities/
To support our students and staff, a Neurodiversity Group has been established in the school and this action has been embedded in our Silver Athena SWAN action plan.
‘Minding Your Wellbeing’ for Students
In 2023, the School initiated a pilot delivery of 'Minding Your Wellbeing' for our Stage 1 undergraduate Veterinary Medicine students in 2023/24.
This course has been designed by the Health Service Executive (HSE), and its delivery is part of research being conducted by the National Suicide Research Foundation (NSRF) in collaboration with the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, the Veterinary Council of Ireland, HSE Mental Health & Wellbeing and the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP).
At the end of August 2023, the HSE trained 20 UCD faculty and staff from all over the University, including staff and faculty from our School, to deliver the programme. This pilot is being evaluated with a view to extending the roll-out in future years to other areas of the University. The inclusion in the veterinary curriculum of a wellbeing strand will also be expanded into next years of the programme.
Pictured below are some of our wonderful 'Minding Your Wellbeing' facilitators who joined us in the School on Tuesday 12 December when we hosted a lunch event to say 'Thank You' to all of our colleagues for taking part in this important initiative.
