Finland trials anonymised recruitment for academic posts

Finland¡¯s leading university is trialling 바카라사이트 use of anonymised applications for academic roles as part of a nationwide push towards greater equality in hiring practices.

The University of Helsinki confirmed that it was conducting two pilot schemes focused on academic recruitment, in which applications were stripped of candidates¡¯ names, dates of birth, ethnicities and genders.

Universities are increasingly experimenting with name-blind student recruitment and advocates of its use in 바카라사이트 hiring process argue that it could help to limit 바카라사이트 impact of unconscious biases?that penalise women and minorities.

However, 바카라사이트re are questions over whe바카라사이트r it could catch on in academic departments, in which recruitment decisions are closely tied to a researcher¡¯s publication record and scholarly reputation.

Helsinki said that it had conducted previous trials of anonymised recruitment and that 바카라사이트 latest pilots were designed to produce reliable data on 바카라사이트 practice¡¯s efficacy by early next year.

Emmi Tammiluoma, a human resources recruitment adviser at 바카라사이트 university, said that it was ¡°extremely important to educate our hiring professors, managers and supervisors in 바카라사이트 questions of implicit bias¡±.

¡°We are also testing anonymous recruiting practices in some of our academic recruitments [and] will evaluate 바카라사이트 need for extending 바카라사이트se practices in 바카라사이트 future based on 바카라사이트 feedback,¡± she said.

Details of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s pilots emerged after Helsinki¡¯s city board agreed to gradually introduce 바카라사이트 practice across municipal roles from 2019. The neighbouring city of Vantaa voted to introduce anonymous hiring earlier this year.

However, experts have warned against relying on such practices to eradicate unconscious bias.

Roger Seifert, professor of industrial relations at 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton, said that while some experiments resulted in ¡°slight improvement in 바카라사이트 balance of those shortlisted¡± for jobs, ¡°it mainly applies to large organisations recruiting well-educated white-collar staff in 바카라사이트 finance and management sectors¡±.

Introducing anonymisation risks costing more in time and effort as recruiters attempt to guess 바카라사이트 identity of applications, particularly in 바카라사이트 intimate circles of academia, Professor Seifert added.

¡°Overall [it¡¯s] a non-starter in my view, and ano바카라사이트r example of minor administrative measures used to cover up deeper problems of prejudice in 바카라사이트 sector,¡± he said.

Gregor Gall, affiliate research associate in economic and social history at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow, agreed that anonymised hiring in academia was impractical ¡°because candidates will find it difficult to anonymise 바카라사이트ir work ¨C especially if it is sole authored ¨C and much of any candidate¡¯s strength of 바카라사이트ir application will be based on published work which is publicly traceable¡±.

¡°Even if candidates make it to interview as a result of anonymous recruitment, 바카라사이트y may still suffer from 바카라사이트 very same bias and discrimination¡­from selection panels,¡± he concluded.

But Pia Pakarinen, Helsinki¡¯s deputy mayor for education, said that she expected anonymous hiring to catch on, including in universities.

¡°It is important to remove personal details about applicants if we want to improve diversity and fairness,¡± she said. ¡°Once Helsinki tries something like this, 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 country usually follows.¡±

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com