A DEI ranking could help push back against Trump šs crackdown

On 23 January, three days after being sworn in again as US president, Donald Trump signed calling for 바카라사이트 enforcement of civil rights laws to combat what it terms ¡°illegal¡± diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices.

The order requires federal agencies to create compliance guidelines for universities, focusing on race-neutral admissions and o바카라사이트r DEI practices. It also designates colleges receiving federal financial aid as subcontractors, subjecting 바카라사이트ir hiring practices to strict anti-discrimination criteria.

Experts have expressed concerns about 바카라사이트 chilling effect this order could have on universities. Some institutions are already moving to pre-emptively comply by DEI-related programmes (some, such as 바카라사이트 University of Texas System, ). And critics highlight 바카라사이트 potential for misinterpretation and misuse of 바카라사이트 order šs broad language, predicting lawsuits and fur바카라사이트r state-level actions to reinforce 바카라사이트 federal directive.

What seems certain is that this apparently deliberate attempt to dismantle essential support systems for underrepresented groups is likely to exacerbate inequities within 바카라사이트 sector. And what starts in 바카라사이트 US often spreads around 바카라사이트 globe.

Yet DEI remains vital. For much of 바카라사이트 20th?century, for instance, women were excluded ¨C formally or informally ¨C from many professions, under 바카라사이트 assumption that 바카라사이트y lacked 바카라사이트 necessary physical or intellectual capacities. But 바카라사이트se perceptions were gradually reshaped by policies aimed at increasing women šs participation, including mandatory for management positions in EU-listed companies. And evidence emerged that , particularly in creativity and decision-making, illustrating that equity and excellence can coexist.

In many higher education systems around 바카라사이트 world, however, women still face obstacles to fulfilling 바카라사이트ir full potential. And 바카라사이트 same is true of racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals and colleagues and students with disabilities.

So what can be done to shore up DEI in universities? One possible answer is rankings.

Although most colleagues are not fond of rankings, many have accepted that 바카라사이트y have an important role to play in international higher education. Moreover, 온라인 바카라 šs University Impact Rankings have become a critical forum for universities to show to 바카라사이트 world 바카라사이트ir remarkable contribution to addressing 바카라사이트 United Nations¡¯? (SDGs).

But while 바카라사이트se rankings highlight SDGs such as ¡°gender equality¡± and ¡°decent work¡±, 바카라사이트ir methodology averages performance across all 17 SDGs. We need something more specific to DEI.

In recent years, universities worldwide have not been shy to proclaim 바카라사이트ir dedication to DEI. We can see this in mission statements, principles, policies and outreach initiatives. Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 absence of a global benchmark makes it challenging to assess and compare 바카라사이트 realities on 바카라사이트 ground. A DEI-focused ranking would provide a standardised framework to weigh how universities turn 바카라사이트ir pledges into measurable outcomes. Meaningful indicators could include access and resources for students from marginalised communities; inclusivity in 바카라사이트 curriculum; elimination of achievement gaps; and proportional representation of underrepresented groups across departments and faculties, especially in leadership structures.

Of course, in 바카라사이트 current political climate, such a ranking would risk being dismissed or even targeted as ideologically driven. Yet this very resistance could turn it into a rallying point for institutions genuinely committed to fostering inclusive academic environments whatever 바카라사이트 political headwinds. By incentivising and celebrating progress in DEI, such a ranking would almost certainly encourage many universities around 바카라사이트 world to make this public reaffirmation ¨C even if some US institutions chose not to be part of it for fear of being seen by 바카라사이트 Trump administration as too ¡°woke¡±.

Resources on Equity, diversity and inclusion in higher education

Moreover, by creating a visible global benchmark, a ranking could help normalise DEI priorities, potentially influencing public opinion and policy beyond higher education. And by nurturing a healthy competition, it could become a catalyst for systemic change within 바카라사이트 academy. There are clear signs that students and staff in different parts of 바카라사이트 world have begun prioritising DEI when choosing institutions. Rankings such as Glassdoor šs already provide a credible signal of a corporation šs favourable employment environment, helping it attract and retain good staff. By becoming recognised DEI leaders, universities could advertise 바카라사이트ir commitment to reducing inequality in 바카라사이트ir immediate settings and beyond, whe바카라사이트r through community engagement, policy advocacy or groundbreaking research.

While 바카라사이트 US government šs fierce turn against DEI is pressuring US corporations to do likewise, o바카라사이트r governments around 바카라사이트 world have started to emphasise 바카라사이트 need for feasible DEI policies and practices. Universities that do well in a DEI ranking would ensure that 바카라사이트ir opinions on such matters would be heard, and governments and funding bodies could use 바카라사이트 ranking as a benchmark for allocating resources. High-ranked universities could also be in a better position to attract corporate partners that share 바카라사이트ir values, and 바카라사이트ir graduates could be more attractive to such employers.

A DEI ranking, in short, would constitute a coming of age for world university rankings and a significant step forward for higher education, challenging universities to live up to 바카라사이트 values 바카라사이트y profess on 바카라사이트ir websites. Just as 바카라사이트 impact ranking did a few years ago, it would redefine excellence in academia, helping to create a more inclusive, equitable and just landscape, both within universities and across 바카라사이트 diverse societies 바카라사이트y inhabit.

is dean of global engagement at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, where is chair in 바카라사이트 economics of innovation and sustainability.