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Equitas – EDI in Practice in Higher Education Conference

Date: Thursday 23rd – Friday 24th May 2024

Venue: Millenium Theatre, Technological University of the Shannon, Moylish Park, Limerick, V94EC5T

There is a strong commitment across the Higher Education sector in Ireland to support, embed and drive best practice in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Following on from the inaugural Equitas conference which took place last year in SETU, this year’s conference in TUS aims to provide an opportunity to reflect on work to date in the Higher Education sector, share best practice and provide a platform for new and emerging research and action on key aspects of equality, diversity and inclusion.

The conference will be held in TUS Moylish Campus, Limerick on the 23rd and 24th of May 2024. This conference is open to academics across disciplines, researchers, graduate students, managers, EDI practitioners, administrators, and all who are interested in EDI in Higher Education.

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Call for Abstracts

We are pleased to launch a call for abstracts for the upcoming Equitas conference. During the conference, we will explore 4 overarching themes on equality, diversity and inclusion, as outlined below.

Intersectionality in practice

The term Intersectionality, coined by Kimberle Crenshaw, helps explain how each individual has multiple identities and is subject to various forms of intersecting oppressions. It was initially used to explain the intersecting oppression of race and gender, as experienced by Black women. When we try to address grounds of discrimination in silos, we fail to gain a true understanding of power and oppression, and could further exacerbate existing inequalities.

This theme aims to explore how we can move beyond a theoretical understanding of intersectionality in its broadest sense and share practical examples of how an intersectional approach has been taken in EDI work in Higher Education. We welcome abstracts of initiatives that are at early stages and can demonstrate how an intersectional approach is incorporated in the design phase, to more advanced projects which can demonstrate how an intersectional approach was applied through multiple phases in the project. We also welcome abstracts on research that explores the theoretical framework of intersectionality and how it can be applied in practice.

Embedding EDI in Higher Education: Supporting Culture Change by Moving Beyond the Echo Chamber

There is a strong movement to embed EDI principles and practice within Higher Education, however this is not without its challenges. While there may often be strong support for EDI-related work, it may sometimes feel like conversations and initiatives are happening with the same group of engaged people. How do we support broader culture change in EDI within our organisations? We welcome abstracts that can link research and practice on supporting culture change in organisations from an EDI lens.

EDI in a Data-driven World

This theme aims to explore the challenges regarding EDI and Data. We welcome abstracts on the following areas within this theme: Successful strategies for collecting EDI related quantitative data; Explorations on the tensions between a push for collecting more expansive equality related data within higher education and data privacy issues related to this; Reflections on collating data on sensitive topics under our commitments to Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment Framework; research and practice using qualitative EDI related data and supporting culture change through the power of personal stories; research and practice on navigating EDI conversations through social media; research and practice on navigating Artificial Intelligence through an EDI lens.

Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workforce from an EDI perspective

There are many synergies between workplace health and wellbeing and equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This theme aims to examine aspects of these synergies and look at best practice in this space. We invite abstracts on well-being in the workforce initiatives that have applied an EDI lens; or EDI related initiatives or research that has directly impacted workplace health and wellbeing.

Submissions

We invite abstracts in line with these broad themes. Please complete the form below to submit an abstract.

Submit an Extract

Abstracts should be submitted by 16th February 2024.  

Submissions may take the form of any of the following:

  • Full papers will be a maximum of 15 minutes in duration with an extra 5 minutes for discussion.
  • Panel proposals of 3 persons addressing a common theme are welcomed.  
  • ‘Dialogue pairs’ (two people jointly presenting a topic in dialogue with one another) are welcomed. 
  • Workshop proposals are also welcomed. Depending on numbers, workshops may be allocated up to 60 minutes each. Workshop proposals must indicate clearly the nature and extent of the activities in which participants will be involved. 
  • Poster submissions are welcomed and will be displayed in the foyer area.

If your presentation is accepted, your abstract will be included on the TUS EDI webpage. Abstract should include:

  1. Author information (primary presenter) – title, name, short biography (100 words); email address, and institutional affiliation (if any). 
  2. Detail of the nature of your presentation (i.e. whether it is: 
  3. An Oral Presentation  
  4. A Dialogue Pair  
  5. A Panel Proposal 
  6. A Workshop Proposal 
  7. A Poster  
  8. The title of your presentation  
  9. Its relevance to the conference theme.  
  10. Abstract (300 words max) 

All submissions will be acknowledged, and successful abstracts will be notified in March.  

Please address any queries to equalityanddiversity@tus.ie.