Our International Women’s Day activities

International women's dayEvents and activities for our staff and students will take place across our University next month to celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March.

During March , the University will be celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD), and staff and students across the University will have the opportunity to recognise and appreciate the day at a number of events taking place across the University.

Banji Adewumi, Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), said: “International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate women’s achievements and drive gender equity. There are various events taking place across the University and I encourage people to attend where they can, so we can all come together and learn, share, celebrate and further the dialogue around equality, diversity and inclusion.”

Adèle MacKinlay, Director of People and Organisational Development, Co-chair and champion of the Women@Manchester Network and Deputy CEO of the Women’s Higher Education Network said:  “The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day campaign is #EmbraceEquity. As an institution we have set out how we will #EmbraceEquity in our EDI strategy and how we will become a truly inclusive organisation where inclusion and equity are embedded in all that we do and who we are.  Personally, I am passionate about how we #EmbraceEquity and the role we all play in working towards a world of equity for all people. I encourage everyone to attend the events taking place to learn more about how we can all #EmbraceEquity. “

Events

Monday, 6 – 10 March

Wall of Women

Digital screens across the University will display our ‘Wall of Women’, celebrating women from all ethicity backgrounds, and nationalities, women with disabilities, women of all ages, religions and beliefs, sexual orientations and people across the gender-spectrum who don’t identify as cis-men from our University.

Tuesday, 7 March

Embracing Equity: Celebrating the Power of the Women@Network

1pm – 3pm, Christie’s bistro

This event, hosted by our Vice Chancellor, will celebrate our talented women, share experiences and achievements and consider the impact of women’s leadership development programmes and the power of women’s networks to accelerate positive change within and outside the University.

Wednesday, 8 March

Nazir Afzal: Fighting for Gender Equity (FBMH event)

2pm – 3pm, MECD

Join the Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health for our flagship International Women’s Day event with Nazir Afzal OBE, University Chancellor, who will share insights and reflections around gender equity.

The future of gender inclusion across HE

1pm – 3pm, Simon building, Lecture Theatre D

An overview and look to the future of the Women’s higher education network (WHEN), 100 Black Women Professors Now and Career accelerator programmes.

Thursday, 9 March

Equity at Manchester – Gender, Ethnicity, Disability

10am – 11am, Zoom

This interactive session led by Paul Marks-Jones (Lead EDI Partner) and Rachel Cowen (Academic Lead for Gender and Sexual Orientation Equality) aims to bring fresh thinking and bold actions to ensure equity at Manchester. You will have an opportunity to share experiences, raise awareness of barriers to equity and inclusion and discuss ideas and actions that you think will make a positive difference.

Girl Boss Equity Festival

5pm – 9pm, St Peter’s House

Join us for headline performances, feminist story telling and live music – along with food from Milk and Honey and drinks by Isca Wines..

Thursday, 16 March

SOMOS MUJERES

4pm – 7pm, Manchester Central Library (Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Education Trust)

A look at the experiences of Latin American women in the UK, based around an exhibition of dolls from various Latin American countries. With live music by Mestisa, delicious food from La Bandera, and coffee from El Salvador 503 Coffee Roastery.

Tuesday, 21 March

IWD discussion with Phillipa Hird

10.30am – 11.30am in Simon building 3.44A

Come and listen to our Chair of the Board of Governors, Philippa Hird speak as part of our International Women’s Day schedule of events.

About International Women’s Day

IWD takes place on 8 March each year and is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

The IWD 2023 campaign theme is #EmbraceEquity which recognises the role we can all play in fostering a gender equal world.

Support

We aim to take a holistic approach that celebrates individuals.

We have a number of policies and guidance documents to support gender equity. These include:

Women@Manchester

Women@Manchester is a staff network group open to all colleagues at the University. The network are committed to non-binary and trans inclusion and welcome the contribution of all women.

The network is about creating a group who can learn from, work with and support each other’s careers and the conditions for success whilst in parallel continuing to accelerate gender equity within our University.

This network is intended to complement the existing vibrant networks that we have across the University.

More information