[ECSS 2025] Presentations of the Diversity & Inclusion Workshop (29 October 2025)

European Informatics Leaders Summit ECSS 2025 The European Voice of Informatics Research and Education Diversity & Inclusion Workshop Rennes, 29 October, 2025 UCL COMPUTER SCIENCE Voices of Inclusion: Experiences and Initiatives within UCL Computer Science Matthew Grech-Sollars Chair of the UCL Computer Science Gender Equality & Mental Health Groups 29th October 2025 matthew-grech-sollars [email protected] Outline of talk •About me •About the department •Athena Swan (Gender Equality Charter) action plan •Annual culture survey •Six initiatives •Concluding thoughts matthew-grech-sollars About me Education •Graduated in Electrical Engineering, University of Malta •MSc and PhD in London, UK – Medical Physics Current Role: •Associate Professor in Quantitative Neuroradiology at UCL Computer Science, London UK •Clinical Scientist (MRI Physics) at National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, London UK Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) activity: •Established the Mental Health Working Group in UCL CS •Chair of the Gender Equality Group •Mental Health First Aider matthew-grech-sollars Quantitative Imaging Group About the Department Karin Alderson Department Manager Daniel Alexander Head of Department Kiran Ahmed EDI Officer ≈numbers: 140 Academics 120 Post-docs 170 Teaching staff 70 Professional services 600 Undergraduate students 800 Postgraduate students EDI at UCL Computer Science CS EDI Committee Disability Support LGBTQ+ Race Equality Gender Equality Mental Health Our 5 Athena Swan initiatives •ARRIVE: Changing perceptions of CS in girls and boys aged 9–18. •ASPIRE: Showcasing UCL-CS role models and presenting diverse career paths. •ACHIEVE: Providing training and support to women in UCL-CS to realise their potential. •ADVANCE: Introduction of structures/processes to make career progression easier for Academic and PS Staff. •AMPLIFY: An active programme that seeks opportunities to share best practices for gender equality, scaling up and broadening our outreach for National/International impact. Annual culture survey •Two surveys: -Staff & PhD students -Undergrad and Masters students •Themes: -belonging and inclusion -gender equality -work-life balance -bullying and harassment -career development -Wellbeing -accessibility 1. ARRIVE: A-COMPS Mentoring Programme •A-COMPS: Apply Competitively into STEM •18-month programme •London-based A-level students •Under-represented backgrounds •Partnered with 4 state schools •One to one mentoring •Summer work experience placement •Guidance on university application •94% Students from cohort one, and 100% of cohort two received university offers Thank you! matthew-grech-sollars [email protected] DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION Malvina Latifaj, Ph.D Postdoctoral Researcher, Division of Computer Science and Engineering ALBANIA SWEDEN Bachelor degree in Computer Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Tirana, Albania. Magister degree in Software Engineering from Mälardalen Hogskola, Västerås, Sweden. Ph.D degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Mälardalen University, Västerås, Sweden. 2019 MY JOURNEY Establishment: Founded on July 1, 1977 as a University College (Högskolan i Eskilstuna och Västerås). Initial vision: From the beginning, the university college was designed to have a strong relationship with the surrounding community and local businesses. This collaborative approach remains a core part of the institution's mission today. Change of name: The name was changed to Mälardalen University College (Mälardalens högskola) in 1989. University status: In 2022, Mälardalen University College was granted full university status, becoming Mälardalen University (MDU). HISTORY Economics Business Administration, Economics and Political Science Engineering & Technology Master of Science in Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Engineering as well as Computer Science, Energy Engineering, Information Design, Innovation and Design and Mathematics/Applied Mathematics Programmes Healthcare Studies Nurses, Specialist Nurses, Physiotherapists, Public Health Scientists, Behavioural Scientists and Social Workers Teaching & Education Bachelor of Arts in Preschool Education, Primary Education, Secondary Education, Supplementary Teacher Education as well as Special Needs Training and Special Educational Needs Programmes Academy of Music & Opera More than 50 full-time students in Chamber Music and Chamber Opera DISCIPLINARY DOMAINS 5 •Educational Sciences and Mathematics •Embedded Systems •Future Energy Center •Health and Welfare •Industrial Economics and Organisation •Innovation and product realisation 6RESEARCH SPECIALISATIONS •Educational Sciences and Mathematics •Embedded Systems •Future Energy Center •Health and Welfare •Industrial Economics and Organisation •Innovation and Product Realisation 6RESEARCH SPECIALISATIONS Engineering @MDU DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES https://eige.europa.eu/gender-equality-index/2024/SE GENDER EQUALITY INDEX IN SWEDEN 9 333 Doctoral students 42% women 67 Professors 46% women 19000 Students (7800 full time students) 900 Courses 58 Programmes ca.130 International agreements in around 40 countries 1200 Staff MDU in numbers Partnership between universities in Europe, Colombia and Panama for capacity building in computer science education and innovation. Establishes smart labs where students and teachers collaborate online using shared digital tools, resources and real-world projects. Strengthens teaching and learning through joint training, co-developed curricula and student mobility for practical experience. Promotes global inclusion by reducing regional gaps in opportunities, skills and participation for both students and educators in computing. THE SUCCESS PROJECT Diversity and inclusion can not survive on checklists or strategies alone. They live through people, through those who care enough to keep pushing, to listen, to build bridges where there were none. It takes passion to make space for others, and courage to keep that space open. The people who carry this work forward see possibility where others see difference. Their passion is what keeps our institutions humane, our science ethical, and our communities connected. THANK YOU!