An inclusive, diverse and equal place to learn

By Dr Gretchen Larsen, November 2021

The Business School is committed to becoming a more inclusive environment for learning. Dr Gretchen Larsen explains the latest developments.

The work that universities and business schools do to ensure Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is more important than it has ever been. In recent years, several high-profile social justice movements have laid bare how much there is still to do to address long-standing structural inequalities around the world.

At the Business School, we strongly believe that all staff and students are happier, enjoy their work and studies more and perform better, in an environment where everyone understands the value of different people working together; where everyone is treated fairly; and where negative behaviours and attitudes such as prejudice, discrimination and harassment are unacceptable.

As our Executive Dean, Professor Susan Hart, has said: "We are wholly committed to developing ourselves further as an inclusive business school, where diversity and equality of opportunity are at the heart of everything we do".

This commitment is a core element in our strategy, with one of our strategic aims being to create an equitable, diverse and inclusive learning and working environment where staff and students can reach their full potential.

Our work so far

To support this commitment to EDI, we've implemented a number of initiatives.

A key area of our work has been our 'Athena SWAN Bronze Award and Action Plan'. Advance HE's Athena SWAN Charter recognises good practices in higher education towards the advancement of gender equality.

The University and School both hold the Bronze Award, which means we've done a detailed examination of where we are with gender equality. We've also developed a detailed action plan to help us address gendered inequalities in the institution.

The following points underpin our action plan. We are:

• working towards achieving a more balanced cohort of staff and students, as measured against sector benchmarks
• encouraging more female colleagues to participate in running the School
• working to fully embed a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion, particularly with regard to valuing the diversity of people and roles that make up the business of what we do.

Decolonising the Curriculum project

This is a University-wide project and is being undertaken in collaboration with the Students' Union. Funding has been provided to employ student interns to work closely with academic staff in decolonising our curriculum.

Our aim at the Business School is as follows: by 2022-23, no student will complete a degree without significant exposure to the issues that are directly relevant to the decolonisation of the curriculum.

The way forward

We also have several other strands of EDI activities and initiatives. These include Lunchtime Fora on topics such as 'How to Talk About Race' - which supports the work being done by the University towards its application for an Institutional Bronze Award of the Race Equality Charter - and events marking occasions such as International Women's Day and Black History Month.

Key to any of the work we do is understanding the experiences of all who work and study here. This means we can refresh the work that we're doing to ensure that the School is a place where all can flourish.

We've explored this in a number of ways, including a series of group discussions and interactive events on a range of EDI issues. The insights gained inform and shape the focus of future activities.

More information on Dr Larsen's research interests.