UCD EDI Faith and Religion Working Group
The UCD EDI Faith and Religion Working Group is focussed on addressing the following questions:
- Where is UCD right now on interfaith dialogue, support for the expression of faith, religious equality, religious diversity, religious inclusion, and the removal of barriers to these?
- What are the current and future challenges for UCD in terms of interfaith dialogue, support for the expression of faith, religious equality, religious diversity, religious inclusion, and the removal of barriers to these?
- How best can UCD meet these challenges?
We believe that a dedicated focus in the context of UCD EDI on questions of religious inclusion and diversity aligns closely with the university’s key strategic objectives. Core Objective 2 of Rising to the Future: UCD Strategy 2020-2024 is to Provide an inclusive educational experience that defines international best practice and prepares our graduates to thrive in present and future societies.
We believe that it is essential to meeting this objective that UCD actively provides support for students and staff of all religious backgrounds. More specifically, we believe that “an inclusive educational experience that defines international best practice” would provide students and staff of all faiths with the opportunity to express, celebrate, and meet the requirements of their faith and access appropriate religious pastoral care in the context of their education and work in UCD.
The current priorities of the working group are as follows:
- Improving UCD’s provision of prayer spaces for students of all faiths.
- Improving UCD’s provision of chaplaincy support for students of all faiths.
- Supporting greater interfaith awareness and dialogue in our community.
- Ensuring that the values of religious tolerance, equality, diversity, and inclusion are embedded in the policies and practices of the university.
Our aim is to bring a set of recommendations on the above priorities to the UCD EDI Committee.
If you are interested in joining our Working Group or simply finding out more about our activities, then please contact Daniel Esmonde Deasy (School of Philosophy) at (opens in a new window)daniel.deasy@ucd.ie, or Tasneem Filaih (School of Classics) at (opens in a new window)Tasneem.filaih@ucd.ie or email edi@ucd.ie
We are inviting the UCD Community to attend the Open Forum meeting that will take place on 16 April is Science Centre Hub, room SCIH 2.20.
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Membership
- Dr Daniel Esmonde Deasy, School of Philosophy, Co - Chair
- Scott Evans, Chaplaincy, Co - Chair
- Tasneem Filaih, School of Classics, Co - Chair
- Abdel Rahman Babiker, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science)
- Sahar Ul Haque, Careers Network
- Gillian Johnston, School of Philosophy
- Saul Lugoye, IT
- Professor John McCafferty, School of History
- Raghad Abu Shammala, Quinn School
- Becky Heaslip, Chaplaincy