Anti-Racism Principles

Signing of the HEA Anti-Racism Principles, 27th June 2023

President Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh signs the Higher Education Authority Principles of Anti-Racism for Higher Education Institutes. 

On the 27^th June 2023, President of University of Galway Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh signed the Higher Education Authority Principles of Anti-Racism for Higher Education Institutes. Dr Jennie Rothwell, Laura Austin, Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion HEA, Dr Helen Maher, Vice-President for Equality Diversity and Inclusion, Owen Ward, EDI Programme Manager for Race Equality, staff and students witnessed the formal signing of the document. The Anti-Racism Principles for Irish Higher Education Institutions will guide the development, implementation and monitoring of the Race Equality Framework and Action Plan 2023 – 2027.  By signing up to the Anti-Racism Principles for Irish Higher Education Institutions, University of Galway is committing to the following:

1. We will embed a commitment to race equality as part of our institutional culture and strategic priorities.

2. We will highlight the structural, institutional, and historical dimensions of racism which have informed past and current practice in HEls and the societies in which they are situated.

3. We will educate our staff and students in relation to the structural, institutional, and historical dimensions of racism, as well as the more commonly recognised individual racism seen in acts of discrimination and abuse.

4. We will encourage an open dialogue on advancing Race Equality.

5. We will adopt an intersectional and intercultural approach when developing anti-racism actions and policies.

6. We will address questions of race equality within the strategic plans of our institutions.

7. We will record student and staff data disaggregated by ethnicity to inform our anti-racism policies and actions, and to monitor retention and career outcomes for students and staff from minority ethnic groups including Travellers.

8. We will continue to ensure a fair and transparent recruitment process for all staff, regardless of ethnicity.

9. We will address race equality issues in relation to progression and retention of students and staff from minority ethnic groups including Travellers.

These Principles have been developed through careful consultation with higher education stakeholders and the expert advice of the Athena Swan Ireland Intersectionality Working Group. In September 2022, the HEA published a Race Equality Implementation Plan to advance the work of the HEA’s Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion following the publication of the first National Race Equality Report published in October 2021. A key action in this implementation plan is the development of a statement on race equality and a national conference on race equality, which was launched in March this year, at the first HEA National Race Equality Conference in University of Galway as the Anti-Racism Principles for Irish Higher Education Institutions.