18 March, 2021

On Monday 8th March, MTU hosted the EMPOWERING WOMEN 2021 event in celebration of International Women's Day 2021.

Seeking to encourage, inspire and support female students, staff, alumni, and the wider MTU community, the virtual event focussed on challenging gender bias and inequality by celebrating the tremendous efforts of MTU women locally, nationally, and globally to shape a more equal future.

The online event reached an audience of over 1100, featuring inspirational keynote speakers: MTU President Professor Maggie Cusack; Leanne McDonagh, Traveller Education Coordinator at MTU; Sylvia Fouhy, Vice President - Supply Chain - Deliver and Digital Transformation, Global Medical Devices at Johnson and Johnson, New Jersey, USA and Deirdre O'Connor, Managing Director at Blackrock, a multinational investment management corporation based in New York City.

 

 

Ireland's First Lady, Ms Sabina Higgins, joined an array of influential and inspirational female role models who shared their messages of support, encouragement, and solidarity to the MTU community on celebrating its first International Women's Day as a University.

MTU staff and students were represented by 35 MTU IWD 2021 Ambassadors who shared their views on the meaning of International Women's Day, while MTU STEM graduates now working in industry joined in the celebrations by expressing their views on IWD 21 and their hopes for the future. The event also recognised and applauded the efforts of all MTU staff who have been working on the COVID-19 frontline in a variety of roles.

The arts played a central role in proceedings with BA in Popular Music students performing Rise, a song commissioned for the event. Students from the BA in Musical Theatre Vocal Ensemble sang an excerpt from "Nothing Without You" by Neil Bertram and Dr Áine Ní Shé, MTU Registrar & Vice President for Academic Affairs paid a moving tribute to the late Cara O’Sullivan and introduced Cara’s performance of ‘Vissi d'arte’ from Puccini’s opera, Tosca.

Speaking about the event Professor Maggie Cusack, President of MTU said: “Inclusivity is the first of the four core values of MTU, and across the university we are committed to achieving increased diversity in all key decision-making bodies. Well done to our colleagues from across MTU who have come together to organise this celebration for the women of MTU.”

For a full listing of the days events please go to https://mtuempoweringwomen.ie/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Could your organisation benefit from a collaboration with MTU students, lecturers or researchers? Email the Extended Campus at extendedcampus@cit.ie to explore your options. 

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