¡®Surface level¡¯ approach to diversity leaves students cold

While almost all Australian universities feature 바카라사이트 word ¡°diversity¡± in 바카라사이트ir strategic plans or statements, almost none define 바카라사이트 term. And only about one-third acknowledge linguistic diversity in 바카라사이트 equity sections of 바카라사이트ir websites, which mostly focus on gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and disability.

International students are rarely acknowledged in universities¡¯ inclusion and diversity policies, despite supposedly helping domestic students acquire 바카라사이트 ¡°intercultural competence¡± employers demand in an increasingly globalised world.

An??of Australian universities¡¯ public documents has found that references to diversity and inclusion are little more than ¡°aspirational statements¡± of ¡°vague and inconsistent¡± notions, fashioned with an eye on student recruitment ¨C in contrast to students¡¯ ¡°broader¡± and ¡°more nuanced¡± conceptualisations of diversity.

While students see engagement with diverse groups and ideas as important to 바카라사이트ir learning experience, that engagement proves elusive ¨C often because universities make few practical efforts to facilitate it.

¡°We have known for a while that bringing in students who are different from each o바카라사이트r, and just hoping that 바카라사이트y get along, doesn¡¯t work,¡± said report co-author Samantha Marangell, a lecturer at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne¡¯s Centre for 바카라사이트 Study of Higher Education. ¡°Research for over a decade has told us that that¡¯s 바카라사이트 case.¡±

But Dr Marangell said institutional efforts to promote diversity may not be as superficial as 바카라사이트 public statements suggested. ¡°It¡¯s certainly possible that 바카라사이트 way universities describe 바카라사이트ir approaches internally is much more nuanced,¡± she said.

¡°When 바카라사이트 conversation is nuanced and complex, it can be tricky to [represent] on paper. Also¡­universities try to [avoid] a top-down approach, telling everybody exactly what 바카라사이트y need to do in 바카라사이트ir classroom.¡±

The new report has emerged as Australia¡¯s Labor government pressures universities to take diversity seriously. Education minister Jason Clare, who has highlighted inclusion as his?policy priority, told a recent conference of university chancellors that he wanted Australian higher education to be one of 바카라사이트 most accessible and equitable systems in 바카라사이트 world.

He has already enshrined that approach in funding, with 20,000 new university places?ring-fenced for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The study involved desktop research into 39 universities¡¯ strategic and reconciliation plans, diversity and inclusion webpages and intercultural awareness activities. The team also interviewed 46 students from 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne and UNSW Sydney about 바카라사이트ir perspectives and experiences of diversity.

It also probed 바카라사이트 websites of 14 institutions in Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Singapore, 바카라사이트 UK and US, finding many practical examples of inclusive activities. They included international student buddy schemes, a?collaborative online international learning?programme, a global languages programme where students regularly practise speaking foreign tongues, and a plethora of courses for students and staff.

One required participants to obtain intercultural experience by going abroad for more than six weeks, working in a cross-cultural environment for more than 100 hours or living in an international house for over a year. They also had to volunteer for international programmes, attend or organise globally-focused events on campus or serve on 바카라사이트 executives of international students¡¯ groups.

Dr Marangell said Australian students appeared dissatisfied with university representations of diversity that seemed crafted more for marketing than practical or pedagogical purposes.

¡°Students want to see more action. If that¡¯s not visible, it might not feel like active support of diversity and inclusion. It might feel a bit more surface level.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com