Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion

Message from Prof. Deborah Kelleher, RIAM Director, on diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion at RIAM:

At RIAM we are at the beginning of a long journey of embedding diversity and inclusion into the core of what we do. Our mission is to be a safe and supportive environment for all who work and study with us. As we consider our place within the European and international conservatoire communities, we want to ensure that we are adapting, innovating and inspiring excellence while fostering positive relationships with our staff, students and stakeholders. 

As part of this commitment, we are delighted to have enlisted the help of inclusion expert Dr Enya Doyle, who will advise us on our journey. Dr Doyle has a wealth of knowledge and experience in carrying out inclusion research, audits and training within the arts and education sectors, particularly in music. She is currently undertaking an audit of our data and the culture across our six learner groups, encompassing both staff and students. Dr Doyle will also help us to establish and roll out a clear DEAI roadmap based on her findings.

Equality and Diversity Policy

The Royal Irish Academy of Music welcomes and promotes an inclusive working and learning environment based on the principles of equality, dignity and respect.

It is the Academy’s policy that individuals are afforded equality in how they are treated, in terms of their working/educational life, and in access to services available from or through the Academy. Any form of discrimination, harassment or victimisation will not be tolerated.

This policy applies to:

• All registered students;
• All applications for student places;
• All employees, all applications for employment, and all persons who are engaged for work by the Academy (e.g. contractors);
• All visitors, customers and clients of the Academy

This policy relates to:

• the provision of all services to such students, including teaching and supervision, assessment, progression, and award and support services;
• all decisions in respect of the admission of students;
• all areas of employment practice including recruitment and selection, training and development, progression (including promotion), pay, employment conditions and retention;
• all services provided by the Academy in its diverse activities, both internal and external.

The concept of equality is central to the Academy’s ethos of achieving excellence across all of its activities and ensuring that its students and staff reach their full potential. A diverse community of staff and students where people are encouraged to feel valued will lead to a more creative environment which affords artistic, educational, and social benefits.

The Academy strives to promote equality and to ensure that staff and students from a variety of backgrounds are present within its community. The Academy promotes positive working relationships through which all members, students, staff and service users are valued and respected. The Academy is committed to ensure that that inequality and discrimination, if they occur, will be appropriately and effectively dealt with.

The most up-to-date Equality and Diversity Policy documents can be found here.

Initiatives