Celebrating International Women’s Day at Teesside University

Teesside University is marking International Women’s Day (IWD) with a series of activities to champion our region’s inspiring women.

IWD is a global event which is celebrated annually to raise awareness on issues around gender equality and to shine a spotlight on the inspirational women who make such a positive contribution to our society.

Taking place on Wednesday 8 March, the campaign theme this year is #EmbraceEquity to highlight how living without bias, stereotypes and discrimination can help create a world that's diverse, equitable and inclusive.

Teesside University is hosting is hosting a number of events and activities to support International Women’s Day.

Best-selling author and Teesside University honorary graduate Adele Parks will talk about her amazing career on Tuesday 7 March in the University’s latest ‘In Conversation’ event taking place on campus.

Adele's first novel, Playing Away, was published in 2000. Since then, she has published 22 best-selling novels. Over four million copies of Adele’s UK editions have been sold and her books have been translated into 31 different languages.

Adele, who was born in North Yorkshire, was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List 2022 for Services to Literature. The ‘In Conversation’ event takes place from 6:30pm in Teesside University Students’ Union and tickets cost £5. Book your place.

The University will also host the opening of the Power of Women (POW) International Women’s Day Festival on Wednesday 8 March. The festival, led by POW, will include a varied programme of activities taking place throughout the day across Middlesbrough through a collaboration with key partners.

The day will start with a keynote speech by Juliet Sanders at 9.30am at the University’s Stephenson Building. Juliet was awarded a national Woman of the Year title in 2022 in recognition of her personal achievement in launching North-East charity Feeding Families. The keynote speech will be followed a Women and Tech panel discussion, hosted by POW Head of Operations Claire Preston.

The POW campaign is dedicated to lifting and shifting the aspirations of young women in the Tees Valley. It was spearheaded by the late Professor Jane Turner OBE DL, the University’s respected and valued former Pro Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise and Business Engagement), who sadly passed away in 2021. Find out more about the POW IWD Festival.

Teesside University will celebrate the inspirational women linked to the University with an International Women’s Day digital screen takeover to help inspire students, staff and stakeholders. The campus will also be lit up purple during the evening to reflect the University's support for International Women's Day.

Borderlands, which includes a consortium of partners led by Teesside University and MIMA, is also launching an exhibition for invited guests at Ormesby Hall on IWD. The photographic exhibition, which is a celebration of women across our region, will be at Ormesby Hall until 31 March.

There are a range of activities taking place within Teesside University's academic schools during IWD, including a showcase of female staff from the Industrial Digitalisation Technology Centre, as well as a talk about the University's Period Dignity campaign and the positive impact it has had.

Helen Cutting, Executive Director Legal and Governance Services and University Secretary, and Executive Champion (Gender) at Teesside University, said: “International Women’s Day is a global day of celebration and we are proud that Teesside University is once again supporting this fantastic event and helping to highlight the inspirational women who make such a positive contribution to our society.

“There are an eclectic range of events and activities taking place at Teesside University and across the Tees Valley and we are delighted to host the Power of Women to help kickstart International Women’s Day.

“Power of Women was launched by the late Professor Jane Turner OBE DL, our former Pro-Vice Chancellor for Enterprise and Business Engagement, and we are committed to honouring her legacy and continuing her important work.

“We hope that by hosting and promoting gender equality through International Women’s Day, we will be able to create a brighter future for young girls and women in our region by helping them to see that they can achieve their ambitions.”

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