The RCSI Institute of Leadership and the 30% Club today awarded a scholarship on the MSc in Leadership at the RCSI Institute of Leadership commencing September 2018. This scholarship was launched in 2018 to underline RCSI's commitment to promote greater gender diversity in healthcare, as well as the critical importance of effective and impactful leadership in healthcare.

The MSc in Leadership was devised to meet the needs of professionals working in the unique and complex environment of healthcare. With a focus on theoretical and practical skill development through highly interactive lectures and simulations, the MSc is designed to increase leadership capabilities. Its aim is to empower participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to become more effective and confident leaders who can deal with complex issues in a rapidly changing environment.

The 30% Club is a global movement committed to better gender balance at all levels of organisations, fostering greater representation of women at executive levels of business and large organisations.

The first RCSI 30% Club Scholarship has been awarded to Sarah Hume, a Senior Psychologist in the Irish Prison Service. Sarah is responsible for the management and delivery of the Psychology Service in the Midlands Prison. She actively contributes to the reduction of reoffending and making our communities safer.  Within the Psychology Service, this is achieved through evidence based psychological interventions which aim to positively impact on the mental health and general psychological functioning of those in custody. Previously Sarah worked in HM Prison Service for 5 years as a Forensic Psychologist. She qualified as an accredited psychotherapist in 2013 and as a ‘lesser spotted’ Forensic Psychologist in 1998. Sarah has made significant contributions to safer custody by improving national data collection for self-harm and suicide in prisons. Sarah is also committed to providing a psychological perspective to the management of prisoners.

Announcing the winner, RCSI CEO Cathal Kelly said: "RCSI is fully committed to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion and this is embedded in our Strategic Plan 2018 - 2020. We are delighted to award this scholarship to Sarah and wish her every success in her studies. We hope that the MSc in Leadership will benefit Sarah’s important work in the Irish Prison Service.”

Speaking at the scholarship launch, Rachel Hussey, Deputy Chair 30% Club Ireland, said, "Executive education is a very important part of career development. By awarding this scholarship, RCSI is not only providing an excellent opportunity to this candidate, but is also helping to reinforce the message to all women about the importance of investing in their own personal development as part of their career plan." 

The scholarship is valued at EU €12,500. For more information on the MSc in Leadership please contact Dr Mary Collins, Programme Director.  

About RCSI Institute of Leadership

RCSI has been developing leaders in medicine and healthcare since its foundation in 1784. In 2005, the College established the Institute of Leadership, Ireland's only third level institution dedicated exclusively to developing the leadership, management and educational capacity of health professionals.

About RCSI

RCSI is ranked among the top 250 (top 2%) of universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2018) and its research is ranked first in Ireland for citations. It is an international not-for-profit health sciences institution, with its headquarters in Dublin, focused on education and research to drive improvements in human health worldwide. RCSI is a signatory of the Athena SWAN Charter and was awarded Investors in Diversity accreditation in 2018.

About the 30% Club

The 30% Club Ireland officially launched in January 2015, with a goal to achieve better gender balance at all levels in leading Irish businesses. The 30% Club believes that gender balance in executive leadership not only encourages better leadership and governance, but further contributes to better all-round performance, and ultimately increased corporate performance for both companies and their shareholders. The initiative is complementary to individual company efforts and existing networking groups, adding to these through collaboration and the visible commitment of senior business leaders.

The 30% Club is a collaborative business-led effort to make real change in Ireland, aiming towards 30% female representation in senior management by 2020.