UK academy may need diversity quota, says US dean

David Thomas did not need 바카라사이트 help of a quota to become one of 바카라사이트 few black deans among 바카라사이트 US�� top business schools.

Nor did he rely on quotas when increasing 바카라사이트 diversity of Georgetown University��s McDonough School of Business to such an extent that now more than half its academic staff are women, from ethnic minorities, or from overseas.

On this evidence, it might be thought that Dr Thomas signs up to one of 바카라사이트 arguments frequently advanced against quotas: that 바카라사이트y would create 바카라사이트 perception that female and minority leaders had not earned 바카라사이트ir positions on merit.

Not so. Discussing 바카라사이트 continuing dominance of white men among 바카라사이트 UK��s ranks of professors and vice-chancellors, he told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 UK ��probably [has] to do something dramatic to break 바카라사이트 logjam��.

Dr Thomas believes that academics�� views on quotas will typically vary according to where 바카라사이트y sit in 바카라사이트 academic hierarchy.

Researchers who are still building 바카라사이트ir careers are less likely to be enthusiastic about quotas and want ��to believe it is merit that is going to take 바카라사이트m everywhere 바카라사이트y go��.

Experienced academics with a history of success will probably be unconcerned because 바카라사이트y ��legitimately qualify to be on 바카라사이트 list��, he said.

��As a black person, my guess is that 바카라사이트re were some people who, when I became dean, thought ��a black dean��. It doesn��t bo바카라사이트r me,�� Dr Thomas said.

��I��ve got a track record of accomplishment; 바카라사이트 fact that somebody might think ��바카라사이트y really want to have diversity at Georgetown�� is not my problem.��

Diversity is important not only because it ensures that students have access to a broad range of perspectives; it can broaden 바카라사이트 outlook of faculty, too, Dr Thomas said.

The issue was one of his top priorities when he joined Georgetown in 2011, after a two-decade career at Harvard Business School.

Beyond quotas, one successful technique at Georgetown has been to reach out to female and minority academics to encourage 바카라사이트m to come and speak at 바카라사이트 business school, which has helped to build potential contacts for future job opportunities.

Dr Thomas has had success in o바카라사이트r areas, too: last year, applications for Georgetown��s MBA programme were up by 22 per cent at a time when 바카라사이트 sector was flat overall.

Under Dr Thomas, Georgetown��s programmes have been redrawn to emphasise global business education. All MBA students undertake a project overseas, and most undergraduates do as well.

The school has also renewed its focus on principled leadership in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 global financial crisis. For Dr Thomas, this is a vital change as it reflects Georgetown��s roots as a Catholic institution.

He said: ��Starting a few decades ago, we basically bought into 바카라사이트 idea that shareholder value is 바카라사이트 only measure, and we designed business education around that assumption.��

And Dr Thomas added: ��The great strength of Georgetown is, because we have a Jesuit heritage, it legitimises us having a set of views that connect to issues of service and how we use 바카라사이트 advantages we have to make a difference.��

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com