Why Strathclyde?Women's History Month
Accelerate Action
Throughout March, we are celebrating Women’s History Month. This month of events is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women across the University, raise awareness about inequality, and take action to forge gender parity.
International Women’s Day 2025 falls on Saturday 8 March and this year’s theme is #AccelerateAction.
Get involved
Month-long events
Women Educating & Inspiring Generations
To mark Women’s History Month 2025, this display highlights the influence and achievements of four women who trained generations of teachers at Strathclyde’s antecedent institution, Jordanhill College of Education. Those featured are Miss Janet Gallie, Mistress of Methods from 1916-1950; Dr Anne McAllister, Principal Lecturer in Speech Training from 1919-1965; Miss Joyce Moffett, Lecturer in Speech Training from 1941-1958 and Dean of Women from 1958-1971; and Miss Vera Hiddleston, Head of the Department of Social Work from 1967-1987. The display features photographs, excerpts from interview transcripts and other materials from the University Archives and Special Collections.
- Dates: 3 to 31 March 2025
- Time: Library opening hours
- Location: Level 3, Andersonian Library, 101 St James Rd, Glasgow G4 0NS. The venue is accessible via stairs or platform lift.
Careers Service IWD Pledge Wall
Join us in celebrating International Women’s Day by adding your personalised pledge to our #AccelerateAction pledge wall.
A pledge is your personal commitment to taking action towards gender equality, whether it’s amplifying women’s voices, challenging bias, or mentoring others.
- Group Pledge Session: Monday, 3 March, from 12 to 1pm at the Careers Service.
- Pledge Collection: Available at our reception from Monday, 3 March until Friday, 14 March, from 10 am to 4 pm.
Visit Level 4 of the Learning & Teaching Building (Jocelyn Bell-Burnell Wing) to make your commitment
Upcoming events
Aurora Women’s Leadership Development Initiative
Aurora is Advance HE’s leadership initiative for women. Each year, the University funds 15-20 colleagues to join the Aurora programme.
Aurora is run as a unique partnership bringing together leadership experts, higher education providers and research institutes to take positive action to address the under-representation of women in leadership positions in the sector. Since its launch in 2013 more than 10,000 women from nearly 200 different institutions across the UK and Ireland have participated in Aurora. Strathclyde has funded places for over 130 colleagues.
Meet our amazing Strathclyders
Sarah-Louise Watson
"Shortly after graduating I became the Deputy Head of the department of Finance in Northern Ireland. Since then, I have started a PhD in Medicine using psychological behaviour principles to create a digital app to monitor visual function in people with diabetes."
Fiona McEwan
MChem Chemistry with Drug Discovery graduate, Fiona, travels the world on the F1 racing circuit testing all the Esso fuels and Mobil lubricants used in the Oracle Red Bull RB18 racing cars to ensure they comply with the FIA (Federation International de l’Automobile) regulations.
Jessica Morris
"The main thing I like about my course is that I am able to study something I have a passion for whilst surrounded by people who share that passion. I’ve met a lot of amazing people from different backgrounds."
Zara Mohammed
University of Strathclyde’s Alumna of the Year
Human Rights Law graduate, Zara Mohammed, was named Strathclyde’s Alumna of the Year 2023 at our November graduation ceremony.
Zara is the first woman leader of The Muslim Council of Britain, an organisation that represents mosques, Islamic schools and Muslim associations in the UK.
I guess what Strathclyde really taught me was to believe in myself and my potential. I am immensely grateful for this award.
Read more about why Zara is a fitting recipient of Alumna of the Year.
When I was enquiring with the University and the MBA programme, I felt that they were a good fit with what I wanted...It really reframed my thinking about where I was, what I have done so far and what I wanted to do.
Pilar, MBA graduate & business owner
Our female engineers are changing the world
More girls now feel that it's okay to choose engineering as a future career, and it's the norm, rather than the exception.
Jennifer Ba
Senior Race Equality Officer, Equality & Diversity Office
"The University of Strathclyde is widely recognised for its progressive commitment to social causes, and I was genuinely heartened when I discovered the Senior Race Equality Officer role. It is evident that the university is actively taking tangible steps to acknowledge and combat racial disparities by introducing this new position. Unfortunately, in many institutions and statutory bodies, race is still a taboo subject, often considered too sensitive a topic or avoided altogether, making it near impossible to bring about necessary change and improvements, to address structural discrimination and systemic racism."
Dismantling systemic racism must begin from within institutions, and I found it deeply encouraging to witness the university embracing this challenge and embarking on this journey.
Dr Christine Dufès
Reader in Nanomedicine at the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences
"Our core values are actively put into practice, fostering an environment where innovation thrives. Our research is characterized by a dynamic synergy between motivated students and dedicated researchers.
"Strathclyde is globally engaged, with a network of international partnerships across the world. This commitment to global collaboration enhances the impact of our research and enriches the educational experience for our diverse community."
At Strathclyde, the rich tradition of 'useful learning' is not just a motto; it is a lived commitment
