Events

Dean's Inclusion Award 2023 and Staff Common Room launch

On October 16th, Head of School Rory Breathnach was delighted to present the latest Dean’s Inclusion Award to staff who volunteered at the UCD Festival in June 2023. Following the festival, UCD’s EDI unit and Neurodiversity Working Group commended the volunteers from SVM on hosting events that were welcoming and inclusive to neurodivergent attendees, especially children.

In all 23 staff volunteers were recognised from across the School and Hospital:
Mark McCorry, Tracey Murphy, Avril McGinn, Renagh Kelly, Catherine McCarney, Marc Farrelly, Bridget Hogg, Antonella Puggioni, Alison Reynolds, Amanda Lawlor, Soudeh Ziapour Razlighi, Estela Bini, Gina Duggan, Monica Augusto, Michael Byrne, Robin Farrell, Pamela Gillick, Sandra Nicholson, Helen Graham and Susan Gaines

The event was also an opportunity to launch the reinvigorated Staff Common Room, a welcome space for staff, residents and postgraduate students to relax, eat and network.

 

Save the Date - Christmas Reception & Staff Awards

The School's Annual Christmas Reception & Staff Awards will take place on Thursday 12 December from 12pm in the O'Reilly Hall Conservatory.

School awarded Silver Athena SWAN – April 2024

We are delighted to announce that a Silver Athena SWAN award has been conferred upon the School of Veterinary Medicine. This is recognition of the hard work put in by staff and students across the School in creating an environment where EDI is paramount. A huge thank you to our VETEDIAS committee, co-chairs Assoc. Prof Cliona Skelly and Prof Stephen Gordon, and staff and students who contributed over the past 5 years. Our School has received only the second departmental Silver award in UCD, following the success of our colleagues in the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences in 2023. The Athena SWAN Silver Action Plan for 2024-2028 provides the framework for our next steps on the Athena SWAN journey. Award announcement here: (opens in a new window)advance-he.ac.uk/news-and-views/latest-athena-swan-ireland-institutional-and-departmental-awards-conferred

UCD Neurodiversity Celebration - April 18th 2024

Staff and Students from across UCD are invited to a Neurodiversity celebration event on April 18th, hosted by the UCD EDI unit and UCD Neurodiversity Group. The event will kick off at 10am in the UCD Global Lounge, Gerard Manley Hopkins Centre. Stefanie Preissner, award winning writer, actor and director will join us to mark the launch of a report on 'Making UCD a Neurodiversity Friendly Campus'. Speakers will showcase neurodiversity friendly and inclusive initiatives and we will launch a new staff neurodiversity network. Book your place here.

CHAS Graduate Research Student Symposium

The annual CHAS Graduate Research Student Symposium will take place this year on Wednesday May 1st. This is a wonderful opportunity for Graduate students across the college to interact and present their work. There will be a series of talks and posters on the day. We would like to ask you to consider submitting an abstract by 8th March – all the details are available on the college website.  

CHAS Pride Coffee morning - February 27th

To celebrate Pride and LGBTI+ Inclusion in UCD and building on the success of UCD School of Veterinary Medicine and College of Health and Agricultural Science annual Pride coffee morning, UCD College of Science’s Pride celebration, we are inviting Colleges and VP areas to hold Pride Coffee Mornings for employees in collaboration with UCD Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Unit and UCD EDI LGBTI Subgroup.

To coincide with UCD Students Union's 2nd annual Pride march for Rainbow Week, 20th February, 1pm, Pride coffee mornings for employees are taking place in UCD Colleges and Research, Innovation and Impact from February 20-29th 2024.

All coffee mornings listed here:  https://www.ucd.ie/equality/support/lgbtisupports/lgbtipride/

MENU: La Fhéile Bride - Celebrate St Brigid’s Day (in person event)

Wednesday, 31 January: To celebrate St Brigid’s day, the Celtic Goddess of Ireland, we are delighted to hold Brigid’s Day eve lunch time gathering to embrace the energy of the ‘storyteller’. Learn a little about the Celtic traditions of Goddess Brigid. Book your place via UCD Booking Centre.

Are you ready to guide and support your colleagues?

We're looking for staff volunteers interested in training to build a culture of dignity and respect across the University. Applications are now open to join our UCD Dignity & Respect Support Colleagues Panel. Check out the Dignity & Respect panel webpage for information on how you can take the first step to supporting your colleagues. Closing date for applications is 6 February 2024. Apply here

UCD LGBTQIA+ Community Get-Together

Thursday, 1 February 2024: Members of the UCD LGBTQIA+ community are invited to meet on the first Thursday of each month at 5.30pm in the UCD Clubhouse. Join us for chats, laughs and maybe even a dance or two. Everyone is welcome. Email (opens in a new window)Conor ORourke for details. 

UDL Module Redesign Project

Become part of a community of practice and join a new project throughout 2024 and 2025 addressing student feedback and enhancing modules through (opens in a new window)UDL. Kick off meeting on Wednesday, 7 February at 11 am in Access & Lifelong Learning.

Digital Badge for Universal Design in Teaching & Learning - Spring Rollout

There's still time to sign up for the 10 week Digital Badge course starting Tuesday, 6 February facilitated by the University for All Faculty Partnership Programme. Learn more.

Thank You Event held for 'Minding Your Wellbeing' Facilitators - December 2023

The UCD School of Veterinary Medicine 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.

UCD Celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities Event

Thursday, 7 Dec. 2023, 10:30-11:30am: Join UCD Disability Subgroup and UCD Neurodiversity Group for "In a Nutshell, Disability and Neurodiversity in UCD" to learn from experts & advocates in UCD on disability and neurodiversity research, initiatives and supports in UCD. Connect with disabled & neurodivergent staff & allies over coffee, find out more about how you can support and communicate about greater accessibility, inclusion in your work in UCD. More information here: www.ucd.ie/equality/support/disability/internationaldayofpersonswithdisabilities/

UCD VetSoc Christmas Gift Appeal

VetSoc are organising a collection for Peter McVerry Trust and the Capuchin Day Centre this Christmas. Items can be dropped outside of the Veterinary Programme office, UCD Vet Sciences Building, before December 1st

Shorter Working Year application deadline December 1st

The Shorter Working Year scheme enables employees to take unpaid leave of up to 13 weeks with the possibility of spreading the reduced salary over a 12-month period. Learn about the background to the scheme, how to apply and what terms and conditions are associated with it, here

Movember and International Men's Day 2023

This year, our CHAS colleagues and fellow students from UCD SPHSS have launched a Movember challenge to raise awareness and funds for men's health.

They are inviting staff and students around UCD to:

• Grow a mo; and/or
• Move 60kms during November

Join the challenge here

The theme for (opens in a new window)International Men's Day on November 19th is 'Zero Male Suicide':

• Supports for UCD students 
• Supports for UCD staff
• Mindfulness for UCD staff

UCD Purl Jam Annual Craftmas Fair!

The Purl Jam Annual Craftmas Fair will take place in the O'Brien Centre for Science on Wednesday, 29 November from 11am-2.30pm. Come along to see their lovely handmade gifts and decorations. All proceeds go to charity. Payment by card preferred.

Welcome back to all staff and students!

18th September, formal signing of HEA Anti-Racism Principles by UCD President, Prof Orla Feely

The official signing will take place on Belfield campus on 18 September from 11:30 – 12:30 including refreshments and networking. Please book your attendance (opens in a new window)here.

The HEA Anti-Racism Principles for Irish Higher Education Institutions document is available (opens in a new window)here. 

7th September, ‘Better Out Than In: A Mental Health Seminar for Professionals Working with LGBTQ+ Youth’, organised by (opens in a new window)Belong To

The half-day seminar will take place in Dublin City Centre from 9.30am-1pm on Thursday, September 7, 2023.

Belong To is pleased to welcome Dr Brendan J Dunlop (he/him) as a keynote speaker. Dr Dunlop is a Principal Clinical Psychologist in the NHS, and author of The Queer Mental Health Workbook.

Dr Dunlop will deliver a seminar on LGBTQ+ mental health, and the psychological frameworks that can be applied when understanding and supporting LGBTQ+ youth. Dr Dunlop will also lead a workshop focusing on supporting LGBTQ+ people who engage in self-harm discussing specific clinical considerations.

During the event, Belong To will be joined by experts in youth mental health for a panel discussion, including the Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon; Tara Mulhern, Clinical Lead at Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health; and Nash Zvikaramba, Psychotherapist at Pieta and Belong To.

If you are interested in registering for this free seminar, please send your name and the name of your organisation to (opens in a new window)info@belongto.org or call 01 670 6223.

CHAS Pride 2023

Veterinary Sciences Centre Foyer, 20 April 2023, 12-1pm

Join colleagues and students from across the CHAS community in the Veterinary Sciences Centre to celebrate Pride 2023. We're gathering a little earlier this year to bring some colour and warmth to our students ahead of their exams. Join us for chats, cake and crafts! More on past Pride events here

Celebrating LGBTI+ History

Slant: ‘Tell all the truth but tell it slant’, 20 April 2023, 10 - 11:30am

Join Professor Katherine O’Donnell, UCD for a reading of her latest novel Slant. Slant is a book about history set between 1980s New York and Ireland in 2015 during the historic referendum on marriage equality. Join UCD LGBTI Subgroup in collaboration with UCD Library for an in-person event to celebrate LGBTI+ History followed by refreshments.

Staff Mentoring 2023

As we look ahead to 2023, we invite current staff in Veterinary Sciences to consider embarking on a Mentoring pathway to support your personal and professional development. There are a number of options available to all staff: www.ucd.ie/vetmed/about/athenaswan/mentoring/

For those new to Mentoring, UCD People and Organisation Development are hosting the following training sessions (via Zoom):

Faculty Career Mentoring - Briefing session | 08-Feb-23 | 12:00

Faculty Career Planning Session with Dr Hugh Kearns | 21-Feb-23 | 13:00

Making the Most of Mentoring - for MENTEES | 08-Mar-23 | 09:30

Making the Most of Mentoring - for MENTORS | 04-Apr-23 |09:30

Booking link here

For further information, please contact (opens in a new window)vetedias@ucd.ie 

Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2023

Friday, 24 March 2023, 9am -4pm: Sustaining Accessibility in Mathematics Event

Presented by Dr Anthony Cronin,  Mathematics Support Centre Manager: This event will showcase the latest evidence-based developments in Mathematics Accessibility in Higher Education including the themes of  Digital Accessibility using LaTeX, Addressing Mathematics Anxiety, Mathematical Resilience, The efficacy of text-to-speech technology in reducing barriers to inclusive reading for mathematics students in higher education.

Thursday, 30 March 2023, 12 - 3pm: To mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week, you are invited to an in-person event exploring creativity and neurodiversity and Making UCD Neurodiversity Friendly Campus Project led by UCD EDI Neurodiversity Working Group. A panel of neurodivergent speakers will share their own experiences of working in film making, comic book illustration and comedy as Gaeilge. Register via (opens in a new window)Eventbrite.  To find out more about UCD's Neurodiversity events, webinars and mini podcast series via the website.

Dean’s Inclusion Award 2022

The School of Veterinary Medicine Dean’s Inclusion Award is awarded on an annual basis to individual students, staff, faculty, clubs or teams that have demonstrated outstanding behaviours in the areas of EDI during the preceding college year. Staff and Students from the Veterinary Sciences Community were asked to nominate a 2022 awardee in October. The award will be presented at a lecture on Feburary 15th to a very deserving MVB student: find out more here

Universal Design

On February 1st 2023, UCD Access & Lifelong Learning along with UCD Registrar, Professor Barbara Dooley, will launch UCD’s Introduction to Universal Design training course. The completion of this module will help all staff to provide a more inclusive educational environment – for all. This is an important training programme which is part of UCD’s University for All initiative. So, make sure to mark the date in your diary now. They will also launch the new publication: 'Learning from UDL Leaders: UCD University for All Faculty Partners' Case Studies'. This publication features 26 case studies from our Faculty Partners across UCD, representing a rich body of knowledge, learning and advice on embedding Universal Design across a variety of disciplines and contexts.

UCD Staff Universal Design Lunch & Learn | UCD University Club | 1 February 1 - 2pm | (opens in a new window)book here

Neurodiversity friendly campus

Making UCD a neurodiversity friendly campus - have your say! All staff are invited to take part in this survey which seeks to identify knowledge, attitudes and experiences of neurodiversity within UCD. This (opens in a new window)survey takes 10 minutes to complete will be open until 30 January 2023.

UCD EDI along with Maynooth University, ADHD Ireland and others have launched a Neurodiversity Masterclass series. The next webinar in the series takes place on Thursday, 26 January with Sue Johnston Wilder, Associate Professor of mathematics education at the University of Warwick. Sue's session is titled, 'Maths Anxiety - A consequence of neurodiversity?' All welcome, book via (opens in a new window)Eventbrite

International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2022

The UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities aims to recognise and value the diversity of our global community, and to cherish the role we all play, regardless of our abilities. Celebrations take place annually on (opens in a new window)December 3rd. 

On December 2nd, EDI/Athena SWAN co-chairs Dr Cliona Skelly and Prof Stephen Gordon, will perform a walk-through of the Veterinary Sciences and Veterinary Hospital buildings to review accessibility routes. This mini-audit will help identify ongoing issues and recommendations can be made for future changes, and may form part of our Athena SWAN Silver Action Plan.

On December 15th, UCD EDI will also be hosting an online panel discussion and launching the UCD Policy on Employment of Persons with Disabilities. Join UCD EDI in conversation with thought leaders including: Cassandra Collins, Principal User Design Director, Microsoft; Sambhavi Chandrashekar, Global Accessibility Lead, D2L; Dara Ryder, CEO of AHEAD; Christina Seery, Adult ADHD App; and UCD experts who are leading on disability and neurodiversity inclusion change projects to support greater inclusion of employees and students in UCD.

Transforming Disability Inclusion at UCD | Launch of UCD Policy | 15 December 2 - 4pm | (opens in a new window)book here

International Men's Day

International Men’s Day is celebrated annually on November 19^th. Its aim is to highlight the positive value men bring to the world, their families, and communities and to raise awareness of men’s wellbeing.

This year for International Men's Day the CHAS EDI committee invited everyone across the college to take part in a photo competition on the theme of Work/Life balance. Staff and students alike sent in photos of UCD Men (not) at Work. 

CHAS received an excellent array of photos from staff/student boxing to family readathons. Thank you to all in our Veterinary Sciences Community who entered the competition! Check them out here

EDI training and events for International Men’s Day:

Across the month, we also encourage our community to take part in related training and events.

These can be booked through the EDI Training and Events calendar: https://www.ucd.ie/equality/editraining/editrainingcalendar/

Men Looking After their Mental Wellbeing (webinar) | 18th November 11am - 12pm | Everyone welcome

Share & Support Session for Men | 21 November 11am - 11:45am

Executive Institute Masterclass with rugby player Gareth Thomas | 22 November 1- 2pm | (opens in a new window)booking link

Breathe: Yoga for Men | 22nd November 2pm - 3pm

Paternity Matters (webinar) | 23rd November 2pm - 4pm

UDL Training

This Oct-Dec, AHEAD and UCD Access & Lifelong Learning are teaming up again to jointly deliver a national roll out of the Digital Badge for Universal Design in Teaching and Learning – a 10-week, 25-hour introductory Universal Design for Learning (UDL) programme for HE and FET staff.

Places for this course are always in huge demand and can be booked at this link: (opens in a new window)www.eventbrite.ie/e/395876736977/?discount=UCD

For more information check out the attached letter from Dr Cliona Skelly, Co-chair of the Vet EDI/Athena SWAN Committee: Digital Badge for Universal Design in Teaching and Learning 2022

Annual Pride Event 2022

On June 3^rd, the first in-person Pride event in 3 years was hosted by the Veterinary Sciences Community, supported by the College of Health and Agricultural Sciences. Staff and students from across the University were invited for cake, refreshments, and chats to the Veterinary Sciences Building. Prof. Michael Doherty addressed attendees, Dean’s Inclusion Award 2021 recipient Dr. Niamh Nestor kindly recounted her inspirational award speech and Vice-President for the UCD EDI unit, Prof. Colin Scott provided closing remarks and thoughts on the importance of these events.

Further information is available here.

UCD Neurodiversity Celebration Week 21 - 25 March 2022

Join Sienna Castellon, Founder of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, and special guests to reflect on, and celebrate neurodiversity in art and culture, architecture, business, education, and technology via webinars, blogs, a masterclass and a podcast. From neurodivergent artists and advocates to students, graduates, and employees, this week explores lived experiences and shares the latest best practice in Ireland and internationally.  

Explore UCD Neurodiversity Celebration Week here

Spread the word about UCD Neurodiversity Celebration Week webinars by retweeting: @UCD_EDI  #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek

International Women’s Day - Tuesday 8 March 2022

International Women's Day 2022 is a worldwide event that takes place on 8 March each year: (opens in a new window)https://www.internationalwomensday.com/

This year The School of Veterinary Medicine has chosen to focus on Microaggression as a theme for #BreakTheBias.

Through a survey circulated by email, we invited our staff and students to share examples of microaggressions experienced or witnessed in our community. A word-cloud will be created from collated responses and shared via social media campaign to raise awareness.

Further information is available here

UCD EDI Online Event - Monday 7 March 2022

The UCD Equality, Diversity and Inclusion unit, in conjunction with the UCD Equality Studies Centre and the UCD Sutherland School of Law, is delighted to invite you to "The Gender Pay Gap in Higher Education Institutions: Opportunities and Challenges from the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021," an online event taking place on Monday 7 March 2022, 11.30am – 1.30pm.

Registration for the event is available at the following link:(opens in a new window) https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/265882972127/

Further information is available here

Award Ceremony - Dean's Inclusion Award 2021

On the 21st of Feb 2022 we were finally able to present our 2021 Dean’s Inclusion Award to Dr. Niamh Nestor in our first VetEDIAS in-person event since the pandemic. The award was presented by Prof. Michael Doherty to Niamh for being a tireless and devoted advocate for our students and across the entire EDI area. In her acceptance speech Niamh spoke movingly of both the progress that has been made and the challenges that lie ahead and to ensure equality and inclusion for all.

"We can’t talk about equality and inclusion without talking about intersectionality – the notion that all oppression is linked.” Niamh Nestor

Further information is available here