THE ART OF DIVERSITY
A
TU DUBLIN CELEBRATED INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH AN EVENT TO LAUNCH TWO EXCITING INITIATIVES.
t an event held on International Women’s Day in March, TU Dublin’s School of Surveying and Construction Management unveiled a painting to mark the establishment of the School’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Action Group. The
event also saw the launch of the TU Dublin Gender Equality Scholarship, generously sponsored by Sherry FitzGerald, who were represented on the day by Managing Director Marian Finnegan and Group HR Director Dealbha Prendergast.
A symbol of equality The painting, Theodolite. Rediscovered after the event known as The Great Pummelling, by artist Kevin Cosgrove, was commissioned not only to mark the establishment of the EDI Group, but also to be a talking
Pictured at the launch were (from left): Dr Frank Harrington, Head of Real Estate, TU Dublin; Dealbha Prendergast, Group HR Director, Sherry Fitzgerald; artist Kevin Cosgrove; and, Marian Finnegan, Managing Director, Sherry Fitzgerald.
point on issues of global equality, and a symbol at the heart of the School. To bring their idea to fruition, the team at the School of Surveying and Construction Management made an application to the university’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Fund, which was delighted to fund what it felt was a strong initiative, aligning well with the Fund’s intent and themes, and representing visual communication in a lasting and impactful form. The painting also represents the integration of sustainability and equity – the two universal, and indeed existential, issues preoccupying the world today. In addition to International Women’s Day, TU Dublin was also holding Green Week at the University, and Kevin’s artwork serves as an enduring reflection on technology and the environment.
Gender Equality Scholarship Also launched at the event, the TU Dublin Sherry FitzGerald Gender Equality Scholarship aims to recognise excellence, promote inclusion, and have a positive impact on the recipient, and on the profession. The Scholarship has been established in memory of Sherry FitzGerald
Theodolite. Rediscovered after the event known as The Great Pummelling. Kevin Cosgrove 120x100cm, Oil on Linen, 2021.
director Geralyn Byrne, who passed away suddenly in March 2021.
The scholarship raises the visibility of gender equity in surveying and
Marian Finnegan described Geralyn as “a trailblazer for women in the
construction, and reinforces the work of the School in addressing the
property sphere, openly supporting and applauding the success of her
continued under-representation of women in these sectors. It will be
female colleagues”.
promoted each year through various channels to raise awareness of
The scholarship is open to final (third) year Auctioneering, Valuation and
gender in real estate.
Estate Agency students from any of the less represented genders. The highest performing student from the overall academic year will be
TU Dublin EDI Action Group
awarded a medal, and a two-year scholarship to complete their level 8
The TU Dublin School of Surveying and Construction Management
degree part time, while working with Sherry FitzGerald.
established an EDI Action Group in 2020 with the aim of taking small
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SURVEYORS JOURNAL Volume 12, Issue 1, Spring 2022
