The Emergence of an Intersectional Race Equality Agenda Within Irish Higher Education

The diversity of Ireland’s population, in the context of a much more recent immigration history than most European countries, has not prompted a significant commitment to a race equality agenda in itself. However, a top-down approach to race equality in Irish Higher Education has been evident in recent years, connected to emerging public sector obligations on equality, and aligned with the maturity of gender equality work across institutions. A national-level statement on ethnic data collection, followed by a national survey on race equality, have settled the direction of equality work to include and incorporate a race equality approach. A rapid establishment of aims, and a solid policy direction connected to establish Athena Swan structures, have set in train a significant number of initiatives at institutional level. This chapter traces the journey so far, explores the implication of the policy direction chosen and the centring of intersectionality within it, and highlights the challenges for institutions embarking on this work as well as the international lessons to be learned. There are unique structural factors in the Irish higher education system which will affect how race equality work is both interpreted and implemented, addressing the lucrative international student market as well as a maturing population of migrant background children in Ireland. The settling of race equality work within already established gender equality structures at institutional and national level raises particular questions about representation and leadership in this area. Finally, as Irish higher education defines the scope of race equality work, the question of how it can address structural racism is brought sharply into view.