The Office of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, in conjunction with IT Carlow Students’ Union today hosted an LGBTQ+ training workshop, delivered by two volunteer speakers from ShoutOut, one of Ireland’s largest providers of LGBTQ+ workshops for employers and schools.
In December 2018, Institute of Technology Carlow submitted its application for the Athena Swan Bronze Award - the gender equality benchmark - to the Advance Higher Education’s (HE) Gender Equality Charters Team, following a 12-month process of data collection, analysis, consultation and forward planning. The Institute also published its Gender Equality Action Plan 2018-2022, which contains a number of specific actions around Gender Identity and Expression awareness, training, supports and inclusion.
In progression of this equality action plan, staff of the Institute were invited to attend the morning workshop, the first of its kind held for staff at IT Carlow, where topics such as terminology, understanding and inclusivity were addressed through open conversation and a question and answer session.
Speaking about the workshop, Dr Allison Kenneally, Director of the Office of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at Institute of Technology Carlow said, “This is one of a number of training and awareness initiatives which Institute of Technology Carlow is rolling out, with a view to ensuring that we continue to provide a welcoming, open and inclusive campus environment for students and staff alike.”
IT Carlow Students’ Union Welfare and Equality Officer, Róisín Sheridan had this to say about the significance of holding this staff training, “I work with students on a daily basis and so I can see how vitally important it is to have learning experiences such as this LGBTQ+ training, to ensure that the Institute is an inclusive and supportive environment for all students”