International Women's Day

UCEN Manchester spoke to some of its female tutors to get their thoughts on this year’s theme for International Women's Day.

It's International Women's Day on Sunday 8 March and the theme this year is 'An equal world is an enabled world'.

This is not only a lesson tutors are eager to share with students across UCEN Manchester but has also started conversations in the staff room. As such we spoke to some of UCEN Manchester’s female tutors to get their thoughts on this year’s theme.

Here’s what they had to say about the progress being made in the education sector.

Katherine Rushton, Media Tutor and Inspirational Tutor of the Year at the LTE Group, Outstanding Achievement Awards:

 "The UK Screen Alliance recently conducted a diversity review into the animation workforce in the UK. This has shown that there are now more women working in animation than ever before. However, there is still a bigger gap in senior management, which needs improvement.

As an educator in animation, it has been my privilege to work with some exceptional women and girls throughout my career.

"We need more women and girls studying animation to help build this form the ground up so they can become leaders in this exciting and varied field."

Amanda Sillett Head of Student Support, Equality Diversity and Inclusion:

"It is so important we celebrate International Women's Day, to help create a gender-equal world for all our students and colleagues. This month I celebrate 25 years working for the LTE group. I started working for the college in 1995 as a part-time hairdressing tutor.

"LTE Group has offered me excellent career opportunities since 1995, teaching in Novus our prison reform provision, for 15 years, and moving into campus management, student safeguarding and support and leading EDI for The Manchester College.

I believe UCEN Manchester and the LTE Group is built from a group of progressive educators and employers who support both students, and staff in offering a wide range of opportunities for women to enter the career of their choice.

Michelle Tocher, Director of Access, Access to Higher Education:

"Empowering women via education can inspire future generations and even encourage socioeconomic and scientific advances, as we have seen throughout history with the likes of Francoise Barre-Sinoussi, Katherine Johnson and Henrietta Lacks.

The amazing work of women in Science, an area I'm passionate about, inspires many others to engage in finding solutions for a better future for us all.

Take a look at the news stories from previous years and join our conversation across social media:

T: @ucenmcr
IG: @ucenmcrc
FB: UCENmcr