The following was the schedule of events for the EDI Programme 2019 – each session, apart from the Pop-Up Christmas Art Sale/Exhibition, took place in Seminar Rooms 1 & 2, Melbourn Building, CIT Bishopstown Campus.
|
Monday, 16th December 2019 |
|
|
Time |
Title & Description |
|
09:30 |
Opening Address by Dr Barry O’Connor, President, CIT |
|
10:00-12:30 |
Traveller Cultural Awareness Training White Irish Travellers are an Irish ethnic group, making up almost 1% of the Irish population. Travellers have their own unique culture which was based on travelling around the country. As a society Ireland needs to work in partnership with Travellers to address the issues that face the Traveller community, such as education, housing and health. There is a need for public services to respect the cultural and ethnic identity of Travellers when they access services. Less than 1% of the Traveller population progress to third level education. The programme was delivered by Traveller Community Workers who have been trained in facilitation skills to deliver the programme. The aims of the TCAT programme were:
|
|
12:30-14:00 |
Our Challenges in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: In conversation with Dr Amanullah De Sondy, Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Islam at UCC Introduced by Dr Orla Flynn, Vice President for External Affairs, CIT Dr Amanullah De Sondy is a senior lecturer in Contemporary Islam at University College Cork. Amanullah holds a B.A in Religious Studies and Education Studies with the Diploma in Education from Stirling University. This led to a career as a secondary school teacher of Religious Education (RE) in Scotland where he taught in many different schools, held senior positions in national RE organisations, led a number of in-service events for teachers, consulted the Scottish Government's non-departmental public body, Learning Teaching Scotland (LTS), authored two key texts on teaching Islam and lectured part time at Strathclyde University's teacher training courses on RE at Jordanhill College, Glasgow. Amanullah then completed an MLitt in Islamic Jerusalem studies at the University of Abertay, Dundee, which focused mainly on the history of the city and its religious connections. Amanullah then returned to his home city, Glasgow where he completed his PhD in 2009 in Theology and Religious Studies with a specific focus on Islamic Studies. While at Glasgow, he was short-listed for the Teaching Excellence Award and was the lead researcher on "Philanthropy for Social Justice in British Muslim Societies," a project funded by the Ford Foundation. Amanullah moved to the USA thereafter, where he taught Islamic Studies at Ithaca College (1 year) and the University of Miami (5 years) in 2010. He has studied Arabic and Islam in France, Jordan, and Syria and has particular interest in Urdu and Punjabi poetry, or ghazals. His first book, “The Crisis of Islamic Masculinities”, was published with Bloomsbury Academic in January 2014. Amanullah has played a significant international role in the public understanding of Islam. He has contributed articles and interviews in the print media and has also been invited to present radio and TV. In 2008, BBC Radio Scotland broadcast a full-length program ‘A Life in Question - Amanullah De Sondy’ hosted by Colin McKay. |
|
Tuesday, 17th December 2019 |
|
|
Time |
Title & Description |
|
10:00-12:00 |
"UDL – Learning and Sharing” – practical and easy ways to create more innovative and inclusive practice in lectures and assessments Facilitated By
Universal Design for Learning is an educational framework based on research in the learning sciences, including cognitive neuroscience, that guides the development of flexible learning environments and learning spaces that can accommodate individual learning differences. This workshop focused on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in CIT - if you are looking for ways to ensure that your classroom is as inclusive as possible and create a teaching and learning environment that is accessible to all, then this workshop helped to give you some tools and ideas on how to make this a reality! In the context of UDL, attendees:
|
|
Wednesday, 18th December 2019 |
|
|
Time |
Title & Description |
|
10:00-12:00 |
Recognising and Challenging our Unconscious Bias Facilitated By On behalf of the Athena SWAN Office, CIT
Unconscious bias refers to the stereotypes, both negative and positive, that exist in our subconscious and affect our behaviour. It can affect workplaces and organisations and can introduce unintentional discrimination which results in poor decision making. Unconscious Bias can be a huge setback in creating a truly diverse and inclusive workplace. The main goal of this workshop was to raise awareness of this important issue amongst staff and give a flavour of further training that is planned for the coming year, in response to CIT’s commitment to Athena SWAN. It is hoped that by encouraging us all to recognise and challenge our own unconscious biases that we can effect positive change within CIT and create a truly diverse and inclusive workspace to the benefit of all. Those attending this workshopl:
|
|
12:30-14:00 |
Other Voices A space to hear other voices, telling other stories, from other perspectives which included:
|
|
Thursday, 19th December 2019 |
|
|
Time |
Title & Description |
|
12:00-14:00 |
Assistive Technology and Learning Resources for All Delivered By
Assistive technology (AT) tools and resources were once meant for students with learning disabilities, but there is clear, documented proof that these tools are beneficial to everyone. This session introduced staff to the various AT that can be used by both students and staff to support academic study including dictation, mind mapping and narration technologies. In addition, some useful learning resources, developed within the CIT Disability Office, were shared that can be used to support all students not just those with disabilities. |
|
Saturday, 14th -Friday, 20th December 2019 |
|
|
Time |
Title & Description |
|
11:00-16:00 |
Pop-Up Christmas Art Sale/Exhibition 46 Grand Parade will host a Pop-Up Christmas Art Sale/Exhibition offering a fantastic opportunity to purchase art for Christmas from GASP and Cúig Artists. CIT Crawford is proud to work in partnership with the GASP and Cúig artists as they continue to gain a strong reputation for their work with an extensive exhibition record. Crawford Supported Studios is a partnership between CIT Crawford, Crawford Art Gallery, Cope Foundation and Cork City Council. |
References
- National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 (Hunt Report). Dublin: Department of Education and Skills.
- National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education, 2015-2019. Dublin: Higher Education Authority.
