Why Strathclyde?Women's History Month
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 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 March, and celebrates the social, economic, cultural & political achievements of women.
Get involved
Month-long events
Pledge Wall
- Venue: Level 4 of Learning & Teaching Building
A key feature of this year’s programme is the Women’s History Month Pledge Wall. The Pledge Wall offers staff and students the chance to make a personal commitment to advancing gender equality. That could be mentoring a colleague, challenging bias, amplifying women’s voices, or continuing to educate ourselves on inclusive practices.
You will find the Pledge Wall on Level 4 of the Learning & Teaching Building. There is also a digital Pledge Wall where you can add your contributions.
Each pledge represents a meaningful step towards creating a more equitable and supportive University community.
We encourage everyone to take a moment to reflect on what action they can take and to add their pledge.
Book Display
- Venue: Level 2 of Andersonian Library
The Library has a book display for Women's History Month, showcasing a wide range of women's work, from fiction to histories and biographies. Whether it's a comic you want or a children's book, come borrow a book! And stop by the community jigsaw and add a piece to reveal the 100 iconic women depicted.
From the StrathArchives: Strathclyde’s First Female Professor
The StrathArchives blog from the University of Strathclyde’s Archives and Special Collections showcases fascinating stories and discoveries drawn from the university’s archival collections. For Women’s History Month, the StrathArchives team have published a new blog on Strathclyde’s First Female Professor, Miss Mary E. Dunn.
Discover this fascinating story and other hidden histories preserved in Strathclyde’s archives.
Intersectionality Workshop
- Date: 3 March 2026
- Time: 11am to 1pm
- Venue: TL557 (Learning & Teaching building)
Intersectionality, a term coined by scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw, describes the study of overlapping identities and the interaction between different power structures.
In this workshop, participants will be provided with a safe space to reflect on intersecting identities such as race, gender, class, sexual orientation, ability, and many others. By applying an intersectional framework, participants will be better equipped to identify the impact of overarching power structures and to address inequality comprehensively.
International Women’s Day: Finding Solace in Troubled Times
- Date: 11 March 2026
- Time: 12pm to 1.30pm
- Venue: CW404b, Cathedral Street Wing (Business School)
In times of political uncertainty and social division, many of us turn to books for clarity, comfort, resistance, and hope.
Join the Race Equality Staff Network and Strathclyde Feminist Research Network for a reflective gathering during Women’s History Month 2026. This event invites us to explore the writings that have sustained, challenged, or grounded us during difficult moments.
Whether fiction, memoir, poetry, political writing, or theory, bring a book that has offered you solace, perspective, or courage. Share why it resonated, what it helped you navigate, or how it reframed your understanding of the world. You’re also welcome to bring a book to swap with others.
This is a fantastic opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation with like-minded individuals in an inclusive and informal setting. All genders are warmly welcome.
Please feel free to bring your lunch! Refreshments will be provided.
Women's History Month Researcher Tea Break
- Date: 26 March 2026
- Time: 12pm to 1pm
- Venue: LH218 (Lord Hope Building)
Please join us for a networking event celebrating women+ in research this Women’s History Month!
Come along to meet other women+ in research, build new connections, strengthen existing ones, and celebrate the depth, diversity, and impact of the research led, enabled, and supported by women+.
Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided. As this is over lunch, we welcome you to bring your lunch if you'd like.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Allyship Workshop
- Date: 31 March 2026
- Time: 10am to 11.30am
- Venue: TL466 (Learning & Teaching building)
This session covers the basics of allyship, why it matters, and practical ways for becoming an effective ally to marginalised groups, with a particular focus on sexism and racism. Through interactive activities and group work, participants will build a solid foundation from which to develop their allyship.
Aurora Women’s Leadership Development Initiative
Aurora is Advance HE’s leadership initiative for women. Each year, the University funds up to 15 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.
The opportunity for Strathclyde staff to apply for a centrally-funded place on the 2026/27 Aurora programme will open in Spring 2026 and it will be announced in Inside Strathclyde.
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
