Welcome to our DCU Equality, Diversity and Inclusion webpage. We are dedicated to encouraging and fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging for all. Find out more about the activities of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at DCU Business School.
The purpose of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion committee at DCU Business School is to create an inclusive environment, where both staff and students' opinions and differences are valued. We are committed to promoting equality within the Business School and will be working closely with DCU EDI colleagues to provide workshops, events, and training sessions.
DCU Business School was successfully awarded an Athena Swan Bronze accreditation in March 2022, demonstrating the School’s commitment to gender equality and inclusion in higher education. The rigorous Athena Swan self-assessment process has identified a range of targeted initiatives and developed an Action Plan to address the gaps and challenges. The School is committed to embedding the principles of the Athena Swan Ireland Charter and further strengthening our intersectional agenda.
We are now in the process of implementing the target actions and we welcome as much engagement as possible during this process. More details will be shared in due course. In the meantime, further information and resources about Athena Swan are available on our website.
October 10th is World Mental Health Day – a day aimed at raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and to bring about efforts in support of mental health.
To mark this day in DCU Business School, the EDI committee organized two activities, First, a Tai Chi session for staff led by Malcolm Brady followed by Coffee, Tea and Cake. Tai Chi has its origin in Ancient China, and it is a mindfulness–body practice that is gentle and not strenuous and is also referred to as ‘meditation in motion’. It has been found to be valuable in treating or preventing many health problems and the session with Malcolm was great fun, too – testing our coordination and balancing skills while we were following our ‘Tai Chi Master’.
Diwali, one of the biggest Indian festivals, marks the triumph of good over evil and is celebrated with great joy and fervour. India is diverse, and people from various cultural and religious backgrounds celebrate Diwali for different reasons.
Generally spanning over five days during November, the celebrations start by worshipping Dhanvantari, the god of health and Ayurveda, an Indian medicine system. Abhyanga Snan, the auspicious oil bath taken on the first day of the festival, is believed to promote wellness and remove impurities.
Being a country of multiple diversities, India celebrates Diwali in various forms with various rituals and traditions. People decorate their homes with lights, lanterns and rangoli patterns and exchange gifts with loved ones. One of the most important rituals is lighting diyas (earthen lamps) at night.
The celebrations also involve a grand feast of delicacies, reflecting India’s rich culinary heritage. A few days before the festivities, all households cook a variety of sweet and savoury dishes such as the laddoo, barfi, karanji, chakli, chiwda, and many more. These food items are exchanged amongst friends and relatives as a sign of brotherhood.
Hosted by Briana Fitzsimons, this panel will focus on discussing personal journeys and the broader experience of navigating life in Ireland as a Black person. Exploring the unique challenges, triumphs, and strategies for thriving in Irish society, our panel of speakers will provide insight, inspiration and personal narratives.
Panel of Speakers