The Irish Universities Association, which UCC is part of, has launched an eLearning programme.Photo: Clare Keogh

Minister Harris: ‘Programmes such as these are crucial’

The Irish Universities Association Equality Network, which UCC is part of, has launched a new eLearning programme on equality, diversity and inclusion.

Launched on Monday, the new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) programme will involve a blended approach to generating mainstream staff conversation and engagement with equality, diversity, inclusion and human rights issues in all our institutions.

The purpose of the EDI in HE eLearning programme is to raise awareness of how equality, diversity, inclusion and human rights issues permeate organisational culture, and to understand what third level education staff responsibilities are under Irish equality and human rights legislation.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris said: “This programme is intended to support university staff to understand how these crucial issues permeate our society and organisations, so that universities are empowered to respond in their everyday working lives.”

“Programmes such as this are crucial to helping us develop and deliver the future of our higher education sector and the diversity we want to see in our universities. I would encourage all university staff to undertake this EDI programme.”

The programme consists of four separate modules, details below, each of 30-45 minutes duration, which can be completed either as an entire programme, or as a series of modules allowing participants to build up their knowledge over time.