TU’s come together to launch the ‘EDIT – Inclusive Curriculum Toolkit’ for the TU sector

This toolkit has been developed as part of the Embedding Equality Diversity & Inclusion in the Curriculum of the new Technological University Sector (EDIT) Project and is designed as a practical guide to support the Technological University (TU) sector to implement inclusive curriculum principles across their universities. It is intended as a practical guide for use by departments and their academic and professional staff at all levels to support them to embed equality, diversity, and inclusion in the curriculum and related areas of practice. It aims to make higher education in the sector an inclusive and positive experience that welcomes diverse students and supports them to succeed. The Technological Universities developed the toolkit with expertise available through Advance HE, and with funding from the Higher Education Authority under its Gender Equality Enhancement Fund.

The Embedding Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Curriculum of the new Technological University Sector (EDIT) Project was developed in recognition that the reconfiguration of the Irish HE system provides a unique opportunity to embed the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion into the academic strategies, policies, procedures, and curricula of the Technological University (TU) sector.

The launch of the toolkit took place at the national Equitas – EDI in Higher Education Conference held in TUS this week. Speaking at the launch, Dr. Allison Kenneally, Vice President of South East Technological University, who were the project lead, said “I am truly delighted to launch the EDIT toolkit here today, amongst such a wonderful community of EDI professionals, academics and researchers across the island of Ireland. This toolkit is the culmination of over two years work, and is the product of significant consultation with our colleagues across our universities. In the TU sector, we have a once in a generation opportunity to ensure that EDI becomes a key feature of our student experience through our curricula content and delivery, and this toolkit aims to provide the very tools needed to ensure that we seize this opportunity. It will be of practical use, not only in TU’s but in all HEI’s and indeed, to the further education sector. We hope that it inspires and challenges us all who work in HEI’s to do better, and that ultimately, it will help contribute to better experiences and outcomes for both our students and society.”

Mary Nestor, ATU EDI Manager and member of the EDIT Steering Group, said, “The toolkit recognises that TUs and their departments are at different stages that in embedding equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in their curricula. The toolkit is designed to be used at the start of programme design and during programmatic reviews and validation, and by individual lecturers wishing to reflect on their professional practice.”

Photo caption: L-R: Dr Carol Wrenn EDI Manager TUS, Dr Allison Keneally VP for EDI at SETU, Siobhan Kangataran, EDI Manager MTU, Mary Nestor, EDI Manager ATU at the launch of the EDIT Toolkit at the Equitas EDI in HE conference in TUS.