Leeds Metropolitan University

Case study: Leeds Metropolitan University diversity skills programme

Having run a series of programmes to increase knowledge around diversity issues, Leeds Metropolitan University decided to progress diversity within the university by running a programme to develop the behavioural and skill set of their employees. Having undertaken a training needs analysis, a new diversity skills programme was designed that equipped employees with specific hands-on skills to deal with a range of situations, including potential inappropriate behaviour.  During the course, actors presented employees with a range of diversity issues that they needed to deal with. The response of the participants was observed and one-to-one feedback was given to each attending employee to help them develop their skills. This approach provided employees with the opportunity to practice the skills required to manage diversity effectively within the student and staff pool. 

Feedback from the event indicated that employees had found the diversity development centre to be a worthwhile experience which increased their knowledge of the diversity issues Leeds Metropolitan University faced. They also felt a heightened sense of confidence and commitment to actively manage diversity issues within their workplace.