Marshall ACM News | Online Diversity Training & E-Learning Consultancy

Groundbreaking move to educate university
students on diversity issues

 

A groundbreaking move to teach students about diversity has been adopted by the University of Manchester. It is commonplace for UK universities to educate staff about equality and diversity, but this unprecedented e-learning course sees 500 students forming a pilot group to understand issues, think about how to resolve them, as well as support their future employability.

Patrick Johnson, Head of Equality and Diversity at the University, explains, "It's important for students to have an opportunity to think about and reflect on their perceptions, experiences and actions - and how these impact others. Staff are offered training, and now this new e-learning course will enable 37,000 students to build their understanding too. Students should have the opportunity to find out about equality and diversity and we believe this should happen early in the student's higher education."

Students at the University operate in a diverse learning environment and one in which they may not have had any previous knowledge or experience of studying with a range of different people. The e-learning course will be piloted in the medical and human sciences faculty. These students will have direct contact with the general public when they graduate, making them an ideal pilot base. The university will try a range of different methods to engage students, including voluntary and compulsory.

Johnson continues, "Marshall ACM's diversity e-learning course for students helps the University to promote equality and good relations between different groups. The course is specially developed; it's interactive, interesting and engaging. Activities, scenario questions and podcasts are included, helping students to consider their personal responsibilities as a member of the university community".

A key factor for the University is that education on the matter will help raise students' employability. It is not being implemented because of a particular problem on campus, but to ensure staff and students are all in tune with their rights and responsibilities, raising awareness of the advantages of social diversity.

Ann Allcock, principal consultant at Marshall ACM, explains, "Universities technically have a legal duty to promote race relations on campus. Whereas training courses for staff have a strong focus on legal compliance, the student course is more of a resource they can tap into as and when convenient. To help engage students, it combines a highly interactive magazine format, along with audio voiceover".

 

What do you think?

A male international student regularly uses the university library, and today cannot find the book he is looking for. He goes to the information desk where a young, female member of staff is assisting another student.  He attracts her attention by gesturing at her, and she politely asks him to wait until she has finished with the other student.  When she turns to him, he tells her abruptly to find the book for him.  She explains that she has to remain on the information desk and directs him to where he can find what he is looking for, but again he tells her to get the book for him. His manner is aggressive and the member of staff looks upset and confused.    

As a fly on the wall, you have seen this student behaving in this way towards other female members of staff in the library on previous occasions. 

 

About University of Manchester

Britain's largest single-site university with a proud history of achievement and an ambitious agenda for the future. www.manchester.ac.uk