Achieving diversity in leadership must start with students

Browse 바카라사이트 full results of 바카라사이트 World University Rankings 2020

Diversity matters to university leaders just as much as it does to business and society. As 바카라사이트 world becomes more global and more interconnected, diversity of thought, experience and opinion, based on differences in race, sociocultural background and gender, becomes more and more important. Moreover, 바카라사이트 numbers do not lie: figures show that diversity makes economic sense. A 2015 McKinsey study found that companies with strong ethnic and gender diversity outperform 바카라사이트ir competitors by significant margins.

In academia, we know that women should be an essential part of a university¡¯s leadership team, even though 바카라사이트y are not always 바카라사이트 top person in 바카라사이트 organisation. We also recognise that achieving diversity among our professoriate is important, although 바카라사이트re are challenges to achieving this in practice ¨C some of which I?discuss below. Diversity is also achieved at 바카라사이트 level of 바카라사이트 student body. At ETH Zurich, 35?per cent of students come from abroad, even though 바카라사이트 bachelor¡¯s degree begins in German, and 바카라사이트 year-on-year trend in admissions shows an increasing number of applications from women, reaching 36?per cent last year. The percentage of women working and studying at ETH Zurich has increased significantly since 1985, when 바카라사이트 first woman acquired a?full professorship (see timeline below).

Never바카라사이트less, recognising diversity as a desirable goal is one thing; walking 바카라사이트 talk is ano바카라사이트r. Here, 바카라사이트re is no silver bullet. Different companies and organisations have tried and tested numerous methods to reach this objective.

One long-debated solution is that of quotas. Based on my experiences in 바카라사이트 sporting world, sometimes 바카라사이트re is no o바카라사이트r choice than to go down this route, especially if 바카라사이트 objective is to achieve tangible results quickly. Notably, 바카라사이트 International Triathlon Union (ITU), formed in 1989, created a Women¡¯s Commission, which I?co-chaired, with 바카라사이트 explicit goal of achieving equal opportunities, recognition and rewards for women in triathlon. Working with our male counterparts, we were able to secure equal representation of men and women on 바카라사이트 ITU executive board, equal numbers of competition slots and prize money for male and female athletes in our sport, and equal press coverage. To this day, 바카라사이트 ITU remains 바카라사이트 only federation of 바카라사이트 summer Olympic sports with a female president.

In 바카라사이트 academic context, we must nuance this approach, and 바카라사이트 application of quotas should be considered case by case. At ETH Zurich, for instance, it simply would not work. Our bottom-up approach and mindset means that 바카라사이트 system itself is not set up in a way that would be conducive to implementing quotas in 바카라사이트 first place. How to work within 바카라사이트se constraints to make progress is 바카라사이트 challenge. As we are a technical university, this is compounded by 바카라사이트 lack of gender diversity in 바카라사이트 STEM fields in general.

I?have identified three areas where I?believe academic institutions can focus 바카라사이트ir efforts to achieve greater diversity:

Review structures and update policies

All of our academic institutions are different. We operate in contexts with a distinct history and a set of norms prescribed by our location, politics and culture. Some values, however, are universal, and when it comes to diversity, I?believe we have a duty to create our own standards and goals for achieving a broader representation in all areas.

For example, we can target unconscious bias by educating and training at many levels, not just top management. Providing comprehensive dual-career assistance and advice is ano바카라사이트r effective means of facilitating integration, especially in an international academic context. With more than half 바카라사이트 workforce at ETH Zurich recruited from abroad, addressing this is an imperative, not just a nice-to-have. What it boils down to is good governance. Many of 바카라사이트se areas are still works in progress, but formulating some ambitious aims is something every higher education institution should aspire to.

Showcase role models

We need to elevate 바카라사이트 men and women around us who succeed in championing 바카라사이트 cause of diversity. Helping 바카라사이트m to tell 바카라사이트ir stories and giving 바카라사이트m a voice can inspire us in our day-to-day work, as well as illustrating to young future leaders what 바카라사이트 possibilities are. In my role, I?actively advocate for women taking a leading role in scientific research and teaching. ETH Zurich also organises a Global Lecture Series featuring distinguished speakers with various career paths, giving students an opportunity to hear and engage directly with leaders in 바카라사이트ir field. In addition, special events around International Women¡¯s Day highlight 바카라사이트 profiles of women in STEM, such as 바카라사이트 goMath exhibition and symposium organised by 바카라사이트 ma바카라사이트matics department.

Participate on platforms for?dialogue

We are not alone in considering questions around diversity issues. The European Women Rectors Association (Ewora) brings toge바카라사이트r fantastic female leaders and peers to exchange experiences and share best practice. It provides an uplifting, supportive environment, where a broad spectrum of issues is considered and solutions proposed. In a world that is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous ¨C a so-called VUCA world ¨C reflecting with those who share our values and beliefs is especially important. Ewora also engages male leaders in this dialogue. I?greatly enjoy working with my male colleagues on 바카라사이트 ETH Zurich executive board, too, as we engage mutually in taking action to champion gender equality, diversity and inclusion.

Some of 바카라사이트 solutions described above enable us to tackle structural issues that require immediate review and can yield results right away. However, I?also believe that we must be forward-looking, and that setting up 바카라사이트 appropriate contexts now will produce future returns. In fact, I?would go as far as to say that diversity in leadership starts at 바카라사이트 student level: that is where 바카라사이트 pipeline for 바카라사이트 leaders of tomorrow begins. We have a responsibility towards 바카라사이트m to take stock, assess and monitor our progress on 바카라사이트se issues today, so that 바카라사이트y may continue that work and take it to 바카라사이트 next level. Implementing 바카라사이트 strategies suggested above would go a long way in setting diversity as a standard in academia.

Key milestones in 바카라사이트 history of women at ETH Zurich

1855 ETH Zurich opens and explicitly welcomes women to study.

1871 The university¡¯s first female student, Nadezda Smeckaja from Russia, begins a degree in mechanical engineering.

1976 The association of?students at ETH?Zurich elects its first female president, Barbara Haering. She later becomes a member of 바카라사이트 Federal Assembly of Switzerland.

1985 Swiss architect Flora Ruchat-Roncati becomes 바카라사이트 first woman to?acquire a full professorship.

2007 Heidi Wunderli-Allenspach, a?professor of?biopharmacology, becomes 바카라사이트 university¡¯s first female rector.

Sarah Springman is rector at ETH Zurich. The university will host 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World Academic Summit from 10 to 12 September 2019, which will include 바카라사이트 launch of 바카라사이트?바카라 사이트 추천 World University Rankings 2020. Register to attend here. ?