Originally designed for the members of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, the course was coordinated by Professor Sérgio Roberto Cardoso and had the participation of a team of experts from Insper
Last April, Insper’s Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion graduated the first class in the Introduction to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion course. The members of the Committee had the opportunity to delve into different themes, with the support of the Formation Front of the Committee.
Led by Sérgio Roberto Cardoso, professor at Insper for the discipline of Great Engineering Challenges, the idea for the course came about with the expansion and convergence of the Diversity and Accessibility Committees, providing a space for updating and conceptual improvement of the members, as well as the alignment of the principles and fundamentals about school projects and policies in the field of diversity.
According to professor Cardoso, this course had the important role of providing a theoretical basis and highlighting the experiences acquired over the years with the two Committees. “We had to provide the group with an understanding of the social markers of diversity, which we will be addressing tirelessly in the upcoming years – talking about gender and race and how these categories relate to and within society. The Formation Front came up with learning proposal that has professionals from Insper, teaching from their experiences with diversity, equity and inclusion”, Sérgio comments.
For Bruna Arruda, a Professor at Insper and Coordinator of the Committee, the initiative reinforces how diversity is important for our School – it is one of our core values. “Diversity was integrated into the School’s strategic planning. This course represents how sensitive Insper is to the topic and that we have a lot to learn. The first to be impacted were the members of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, but this is just the beginning. The entire school must undergo training in the coming years. Knowledge in diversity leads us to reflect and raise awareness about the topic and motivates us to act upon it”.
Discussion around concepts
Some topics in the course curriculum, for instance, the the Concept of Equity as Social Justice taught by Professor Allyne Andrade e Silva, had a great impact and engaged participants in a very rich debate. “Based on this theme, we realized that some actions taken at Insper are already well-founded, such as initiatives for student support, Toca da Raposa and assistive technologies for people with disabilities. After covering the concept of equity, we touched upon themes like racial equity index in companies, presented by Professor Michael França, and measures for gender equity in leadership positions, taught by Professor Regina Madalozzo”, Professor Cardoso points out.
Other themes were also included in the classes, as per students’ request – this was the case of gender inclusion. “We saw that simple measures can correct some biases that impact gender inequality, for example, using a more gender-neutral language when advertising job opportunities for women”, Professor Cardoso adds.
Allyson Pains, Human Resources intern and member of the Committee, demonstrates the importance of the course for the class and for the School. “The course was quite comprehensive and brought rich contributions on aspects of cultural formation that inevitably influence life in the corporate environment. The training was essential to consolidate the importance of implementing and maintaining institutional policies that address these issues. It is very positive to realize that Insper has integrated the theme strategic in the planning for the coming years!”
Ana Carolina Oliveira, a specialist in International Relations and a member of the Committee, emphasizes Insper’s commitment and how much she learned in class. “I understand that the course is fundamental for us to fully understand concepts and delve into other issues. This shows the school’s commitment to quality in everything we do. I personally realized that I have a lot to learn. I feel privileged to be able to collaborate effectively to the establishment of new actions and policies, here, and also learn to be a better person and professional”, she concludes.
Next steps
Now, Insper is moving towards the next challenges, developing new projects inside and outside the Committee and continuing existing initiatives. Starting this month, the Committee will promote ongoing formation meetings for its members. In addition, training seminars are planned for the School’s leaders and Board of Directors in May, led by a partner organization and a reference in the matter.
