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Get involved in our International Women’s Day activity

16 Feb 2023

Events and activities will take place across our University next month to celebrate International Women's Day on 8 March

International Women's Day 2023 - Cartoon image of women holding hands

This month, we celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD), and colleagues will have the opportunity to recognise and appreciate the day at a number of events taking place. 

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 and I encourage colleagues 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 

Wednesday, 1 March

Putting Equity into Practice – An Equality in FBMH event (open to all)

2pm - 3pm, Zoom

Online discussion to understand the difference between equality and equity with Councillor Joanna Midgley (Manchester City Council), Professor Sheena Cruickshank, Professor Stephanie Snow, Dr Ruth Bromley.

Monday, 6 March - 10 March

Wall of Women

Digital screens 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@Manchester 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 - An Equality in FBMH event (open to all)

2pm - 3pm, MECD  

FBMH flagship IWD event with Nazir Afzal OBE, University Chancellor, who will share insights and reflections around gender equity.

Coffee morning and exhibition - women in STEM

9:30am - 12:30pm, Royce Hub building, ground floor foyer

The exhibition displays postcards written by Royce Hub building users, spotlighting themes such as experiences of women in STEM, or inspirational women who have made an impact on their lives. All colleagues welcomeay.

Career Development Workshop: Exploring your strengths and sharing your experiences

9:45am - 12:30pm, The Penthouse 10.007, Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS)

Run by the Postgraduate Careers Service, this workshop has limited places remaining.

The future of gender inclusion across HE

1pm - 2pm, Roscoe Building, 5th Floor, Training room 3

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

Entrepreneurs @ Manchester: One World Together with Chibwe Masabo Henry, CEO and Co-Founder, One World Together

12pm - 1pm, MEC Enterprise Zone, Room 2.039 Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS)

Chibwe will be discussing her journey as a social entrepreneur and how she turned passion into action.

Personal branding: Accelerate yourself through social media, with Rubbi Ghobal-Wood

1pm - 2pm, Enterprise Zone, Second Floor, Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS)

Social media expert Rubbi will give insights into using social media platforms to market your goods/services and to build a community. 

Women in Engineering Network – social event

1pm - 3pm, Kilburn_Atlas, Kilburn_Mercury, Kilburn building

An informal event for female and gender minority students and staff across the School of Engineering to mingle and share lived experiences. We will be giving away some popular science books written by women. Refreshments will be provided.

Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC) - inspirational women in cancer research

1:30pm - 4pm, Oglesby Cancer Research Building Lecture Theatre

Join us for coffee, cake and networking and gain practical advice on building a successful career in science. There will also be the chance to put your questions to our guest speakers and panel members in our Q&A session. 

Girls Night Out - celebrating women in science, past, present and future

7pm - 9.15pm, Jodrell Bank - tickets £8, £10 and £12

Learn about 18th Century Astronomer, Caroline Herschel, and how artist, Lynda Laird has turned her work into a dazzling audio-visual exhibition in collaboration with Sian Prosser, Librarian at the Royal Astronomical Society.

You’ll get to meet and chat with Dr Rhian Jones, Reader in Isotope Geo-and Cosmochemistry and graduate and undergraduate students from the Physics Outreach team.

Suitable for secondary school students and adults.

Tackle the taboo: Mention menopause

10am - 11am, YouTube live stream

Adèle MacKinlay, Director of People and Organisational Development, will take part in a conversation about menopause with Northern Power Women.

Iraqi Women’s Stories: pathways of activism in para/translation

5.30pm, Samuel Alexander A102 and on Zoom

Dr Ruth Abou Rached, Research Fellow in English and American Studies, will talk about Reading Iraqi women’s novels in English translation and why she drew on the theory of feminist paratranslation, a translation theory that interrogates the borders between text and paratext, translation and paratranslation.

Thursday, 9 March

Equity at Manchester – Gender, Ethnicity, Disability, Sexual Orientation - update on the charter marks and awards

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. 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. 

Emotionally intelligent and inclusive leadership 

3pm - 4pm, Zoom

Facilitated by Siva Kumari of Ei World, this webinar will look at emotional intelligence and focus on different topics such as leadership, University life and performance.

Girl Boss Equity Festival

5pm - 9pm, St Peter’s House 

Headline performances, feminist story telling and live music - along with food from Milk and Honey and drinks by Isca Wines.

Friday, 10 March

Women in Business: Empowerment Summit

4pm - 6pm, The Hive, University of Manchester Students' Union

The agenda includes a keynote speaker session, interactive workshop (centred around themes such as growth mindset, imposter syndrome, confidence, and soft skills). Open to all, regardless of gender, profession, or identity.

Monday, 13 March

Women count: taking a hammer to the glass ceiling

12pm – 1pm 

Lorna Fitzsimons, Co-Founder and CEO of The Pipeline diversity consultancy, will present headlines from the Women Count Annual Report showing that 4% of the FTSE 350 companies are led by female CEOs. Lorna will share why we should recruit, retain and promote women by all means possible.  

Thursday, 16 March  

SOMOS MUJERES

4pm - 7pm, Manchester Central Library

Experiences of Latin American women in the UK, based around an exhibition of dolls from various Latin American countries. 

Sunday, 19 March

Girls' Night In with UoM Sport 

6:30pm - 9:30pm, Armitage Sports Centre, Fallowfield

An evening full of fun for anyone who identifies as female - get active without any barriers - sport tasters, fitness classes, fun activities and gym access. 

Tuesday, 21 March

IWD discussion with Philippa Hird

10.30am - 11.30am, University Place, Room 5.205

Our Chair of the Board of Governors Philippa Hird speaks as part of our IWD schedule of events. 

Thursday, 23 March

Equity for Women in Science

5pm - 6.30pm, Alliance MBS or Online

The gender gap in science and technology is narrowing, but at an unimpressive pace. In her lecture, Dr Cassidy R. Sugimoto will explore this gender gap, and what can be done to address it.

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. 

More information