Diversity is a societal fact that should be an integral part of our social life in our communities, organizations, public spaces, societal representation, and involvement, among many other social settings.
Diversity in organizations can fail. Economies and Organizations need a clear strategic plan from their Leaders for implementation of diversity in their society and organizational environment using the following tools:
- Engagement of organizational and societal members responsible of implementing diversity in the Organization and Economy.
- Encouraging contact between organizational groups and teams as well as communities and social groups in economies.
- Designing incentives for social accountability for the implemented diversity within the organization and the economy
Read why diversity programs fail
The following article was published on the July–August 2016 issue (pp.52–60) of Harvard Business Review.
Munich University of Applied Sciences & Diversity
“… but there is more behind it: Diversity means consciously dealing with diversity in society. It is an organizational and socio-political concept that propagates an appreciative, conscious, and respectful approach to diversity and individuality. Diversity is not oriented towards deficits or attempts to find solutions to supposed problems. Rather, diversity is about recognizing people’s diverse achievements and experiences and understanding and using them as potential. … The reduction of discrimination and the promotion of equal opportunities are the central goals. The core dimensions of diversity, which represent the diversity of people, are usually considered to be the following: Age, gender, ethnicity, social origin, sexual orientation, and physical and mental condition. … At universities, diversity means that a variety of university members interact with each other, exchange ideas, influence each other, learn from each other, and with each other and develop further.“
According to the Munich University of Applied Sciences. Visit their blog on diversity.
Munich University of Applied Sciences is one of the largest universities of applied sciences in Germany. With its wide range of courses, a strong focus on applied research, and practical orientation with partners from business, society, and politics, it offers students excellent opportunities on the job market and in science. The courses offered by the Munich University of Applied Sciences cover the fields of technology, economics, social affairs, and design. The courses are aimed at different target groups: Full-time and part-time students, professionals, and those interested in further education as well as dual students in bachelor, master, and certification programs. In addition to academic qualifications for experts and managers, the program also offers scientific specializations that prepare students for a Doctorate. Cooperation with companies and institutions is an integral part of the program and ensures practical relevance. In addition to professional training, students can develop their individual profiles. They prepare students for the working world shaped by digitization by offers for entrepreneurial, sustainable, and intercultural thinking and acting.
Promoting Diversity at Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg
The Student Union (StuRa) – at the Albert-Ludwig University of Freiburg has been funding the Autonomous Unit for Gender and Diversity at the University of Freiburg since 2015 (Project 1 of 2017: Diversity Sensitization at the University of Freiburg, granted 41,543.50 € and Project 2 of 2019: Diversity in teaching – Fit for the challenges of a diverse university, granted 65,681.25 €) with the aim of improving the implementation of diversity in the university´s culture.
“As part of the project competition “Innovative Studies 2015“, the autonomous departments of the student representatives have successfully applied for the project “Diversity Sensitisation at the University of Freiburg” (Innovation Fund). The project started on 15 October 2015 and will run until 15 April 2017. Project coordination is carried out by the Gender and Diversity Unit. … one of the university’s goals is to offer all students the best possible study conditions in a non-discriminatory, open, and respectful environment. An essential contribution to this is made by teaching that is designed to be diversity-sensitive and geared to the needs of all students. In the course of the proposed project Diversity in Teaching – Fit for the Challenges of a Diverse University, (subject-)specific workshops for teachers in all 11 faculties and other teaching institutions of the university are to be designed and carried out. The aim is to sensitize teachers to gender and diversity issues and to show them ways in which they can do justice to the diverse learning strategies, experiences, and needs of the study participants.”
The Autonomous Unit for Gender and Diversity at Albert-Ludwig-University of Freiburg im Breisgau
Diversity Management at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has set a stakeholder dependent diversity management platform based on six self-defined dimensions of diversity; (1) Equal opportunities (2) Reconciling work and family life (3) inclusion (4) intercultural-ism (5) professional culture and (6) generation management.
“… The KIT and all its institutions in research, teaching, and science support areas are committed to a culture of diversity and mutual respect, recognition and appreciation, openness and transparency and see the successful and sustainable fulfillment of structural diversity as an intrinsic goal of their activities. … The concept of diversity is already structurally anchored in the strategy of KIT in various places. This is clearly visible above all in the umbrella strategy “KIT 2025”, in the anchoring in the mission statement, the auditing as a family-friendly university, and the admission to the Best Practice Club “Family in the University”. … KIT’s Diversity Management supports employees and students in an increasingly complex working, research and study environment to deal constructively with the great variety of different life plans and social as well as cultural backgrounds and to integrate them profitably into everyday working life. In order to fulfill an exemplary function as a public institution in society, KIT has set itself the goal of creating a barrier-free and non-discriminatory working, teaching, and learning environment in which cooperation is possible. … Diversity Management serves as a central platform for those institutions at KIT that deal with the diversity of employees and students, promotes the comprehensive exchange, and initiates joint projects. … The individual diversity of KIT’s employees and students is particularly emphasized in the sense of a positive appreciation and thus a productive overall atmosphere. The focus is not on the minority itself, but on all employees and students in their differences and similarities. At KIT, a number of institutions dealing with the diversity of employees and students. Diversity Management offers these institutions a platform for mutual exchange, for interdisciplinary discussion and for joint action.“
Diversity Management at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
