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Seonaid O'Murchadha; H.E. Dr Amal Al Qubaisi; Deborah Somorin and Sandra Healy.

DCU launches first Centre of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion in Ireland

Photo caption: Pictured in DCU today at the launch of Ireland's first Centre of Excellence for Diversity & Inclusion were (left-right) Employer Disability Information HR & Disability Project Manager, Seonaid O'Murchadha; H.E. Dr Amal Al Qubaisi, Chairperson and Speaker, Federal National Council, UAE (who today received an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy from DCU); Founder of Empower The Family, Deborah Somorin; and Director of the Centre of Excellence, Sandra Healy.

Ireland's first Centre of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion was launched today at Dublin City University.

The DCU Centre of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion will focus on diversity and inclusion research and practice in Ireland for industry, higher education and Government.

The first of its kind in Ireland, the Centre will help organisations to build cultures of inclusion by providing access to the very latest in academic research, insights and tools for diversity and inclusion.

Announcing the launch of the Centre, President of DCU, Prof. Brian MacCraith, said: “DCU's long-standing primary aim has been to enable our students to prepare for the 21st Century. By establishing Ireland's first Centre of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion, we are transcending that and reaching out to the public and private sectors, from sole traders to multinationals; individual academics and policy officers to higher education institutions, and government departments to state agencies. Diversity and Inclusion is the right thing to do – it needs to be at the top of everyone’s agenda, and we are proud to help position it there.”

Prof. MacCraith added: “DCU’s Centre of Excellence will serve as a one-stop-shop, providing invaluable thought leadership and international best practice in the diversity and inclusion arena. Critically, this resource will be accessible and affordable, building on the principles of integrity, research excellence and shared learning. With our annual Alumni ‘Outstanding Achievement Award for Diversity and Inclusion’ Award and, as a university that has led the way in Ireland on access, autism, age-friendly, environmental and other societal issues, today’s Centre of Excellence announcement bolsters DCU’s reputation as a bona fide university of enterprise and transformation.”

Speaking at the launch, Director of the new Centre of Excellence, Sandra Healy, said: “The new Centre at DCU will create a formal engagement for industry and others to directly access expertise on diversity and inclusion.”

The Centre of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion will:

  • Build on DCU's academic expertise in diversity and inclusion research and practice;
  • Forge alliances and collaborate with industry partners on research and practice in diversity and inclusion;
  • Be a recognised hub for research, advice and knowledge exchange on diversity and inclusion;
  • Facilitate knowledge management and exchange on core issues, policy and practice in diversity and inclusion;
  • Provide access to the very latest in academic research, insights and tools on diversity and inclusion;
  • Support organisations in all aspects of their diversity and inclusion journeys.

To coincide with the Centre of Excellence launch, a celebrated champion of diversity and inclusion in the Arab world, H.E. Dr Amal Al Qubaisi, Chairperson and Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC - the United Arab Emirates Parliament), received an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy from DCU. In 2015, Dr Amal made history when she was elected Speaker of the FNC, becoming the first woman in the Arab world to hold such office.

Speaking at her conferring, Dr Amal Al Qubaisi said: "Challenges sometimes define who we are. The greater those challenges, the greater the achievements. Tolerance, inclusion, accepting others and co-existence - these are all based on respect."

Dr Amal described the opening of DCU's Centre of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion as "a huge step forward, especially in an academic arena. Being available as a role model in this way and setting an example that others will follow is so important".

Addressing the honouree before a large attendance at the ceremony, Prof. Brian MacCraith commented: " If there's one word which captures what Dr Amal stands for, it is tolerance - an increasingly rare attribute in a world of coarsening values, xenophobia and rampant populsim. Dr Amal, you have embodied active tolerance and, through that, you serve as a critically important role model, especially for our students, and you represent the values that we wish to instil in them in our mission to transform lives and societies."

Among the special guests participating in today’s event were former President of Ireland, Dr Mary McAleese; social entrepreneur and autism advocate, Adam Harris; social justice advocate, Michael Barron; Employer Disability Information HR & Disability Project Manager, Seonaid O'Murchadha; founder of Empower The Family, Deborah Somorin; and Group Business Editor of Independent News & Media, Dearbhail McDonald.