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Departmental Priorities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021

Tuesday, 2 November 2021

Ceisteanna (665)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

665. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeline for the implementation of the recommendation outlined in the Higher Education Authority survey on race equality in the higher education sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52234/21]

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Freagraí scríofa

Since 2019, the HEA Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, has been working closely with the National Athena SWAN Ireland Intersectionality Working Group to advance work in the area of race equality. The group is open to staff members from HEIs with academic or professional expertise in this area as well as representatives from the Higher Education Authority.

In May 2020, the Intersectionality Working Group produced a statement

(hea.ie/assets/uploads/2020/07/Intersectionality-WG-Statement-on-Ethnicity-Categories-in-Irish-HE.pdf ) to provide staff in HEIs with information on the rationale for collecting ethnicity data and the complexities of categorisation. The statement also provides some context for race equality work in higher education, as well as recommended actions for HEIs to consider. The statement has been endorsed by 25 HEIs, as well as by the Irish Universities Association and the Technological Higher Education Association.

In late 2020/early 2021, the HEA conducted a national survey of HEI staff to develop a picture of race equality across the Irish higher education sector. For the purposes of the survey, race equality was defined as ‘equal representation, equal experiences and equal outcomes of staff from minority ethnic groups’. The survey was developed by the HEA Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, in collaboration with the Athena SWAN Ireland Intersectionality Working Group. The recently published HEA report, Race Equality in Higher Education , presents the findings of this survey.

This report is extremely important as it gives us, for the first time, data in relation to the experience of staff from minority ethnic groups in Irish higher education. It highlights that higher education institutions have an opportunity to play a critical role in relation to racial inequalities in wider society. There is an opportunity for higher education to become a beacon of good practice in this area. This report is the first of its kind in this area and will help HEIs to keep pace with wider demographic changes in Irish society.

The recommendations, many of which are already being implemented by HEIs through their ongoing work in advancing equality, diversity and inclusion, will now be considered by the HEA and the Intersectionality Working Group. This group will advise on a plan for the implementation of key recommendations, which is expected to be finalised in the new year. This is a new area of work for the higher education sector and any implementation plan will focus on short, medium and long-term goals to ensure that our HEIs offer an equality of opportunity for all students and staff, regardless of ethnicity.

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