Evidence to Action: Ending Sexual Violence & Harassment in Higher Education

The Higher Education Authority’s Center of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion will host a one-day conference entitled 'Evidence to Action: Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Higher Education', on Thursday 8 December from 10:00 – 15:30 in the Cusack Suite of Croke Park in Dublin.

This event is an opportunity to showcase good practice ongoing across the sector, to share learning and to discuss future priorities and approaches, in the context of the findings of the National Surveys of Staff and Student Experiences of Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish HEIs and recently launched HEA ESVH Implementation Plan.

AGENDA

Registration and refreshments (10:00-10:30am)

Morning sessions:

Opening address - The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD.

Active*Consent performance – an adapted version of the play, The Kinds of Sex You Might Have at College, directed by Dr. Charlotte McIvor of the University of Galway.

National Surveys of Staff and Student Experiences of Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish HEIs - findings and response - Dr. Pádraig MacNeela, Active*Consent programme lead, University of Galway.

Findings of the UniSAFE surveys on gender-based violence in academia - Dr. Fredrik Bondestam, Director of the Swedish Secretariat for Gender Research at the University of Gothenburg (virtually).

Panel discussion 1: Data, evidence and measuring change

Panel members:

• Marcellina Fogarty, Strategic Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Manager, University College Dublin

• Dr. Siobán O'Brien Green, Equality Officer, Trinity College Dublin

• Dr. Pádraig MacNeela, School of Psychology and Active*Consent programme lead, University of Galway

• Claire McGing, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Manager, IADT

• Dr. Clíona Saidléar, Executive Director, Rape Crisis Network Ireland

LUNCH

Afternoon sessions:

Moving Parts – Showcasing animations created through an active collaboration between students and staff at IADT, NUIG Active*Consent, and UCC Bystander Intervention.

Speak Out anonymous reporting tool – Rachel Skelly, Speak Out project lead

Bystander Intervention programme - Prof. Louise Crowley of the School of Law, University College Cork

Panel discussion 2: Targeted interventions - education, training and awareness-raising initiatives

Panel members:

• Sam Blanckensee, Equality Officer, Maynooth University

• Michelle Caulfield, Education and Training Manager, Galway Rape Crisis Centre

• Aoife Grimes, ESHTE (Ending Sexual Harassment in Third Level Education) Project Co-Ordinator, National Women’s Council of Ireland

• Dr. Carol Wrenn, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, Technological University of the Shannon

• Dr. Caroline Kelleher, School of Population Health, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland

Wrap up and close @ 15:30

Please note:

This conference will address the issues of sexual harassment and violence, which some people may find uncomfortable or upsetting. Information on support available to you, should you need it, can be found here.

This event will not be livestreamed or recorded.

Dietary requirements: Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options will be available. Please indicate specific dietary requirements when registering for his event.

Parking and Transport:

The Cusack Entrance / Conference Centre is the best entrance for the Cusack Suite. Free car parking is available in the Cusack car park and this is located off Clonliffe road and accessed via St Joseph’s avenue.

Further information is available on the Croke Park website.

Spaces are limited so if you can no longer make it, please cancel your ticket.