Increasing Racial and Ethnic Equity in Switzerland

Learning objectives

Students who successfully complete this course:

• understand the overarching global diversity management framework and how diversity can improve organizations performance.
• understand the nuances of the topic of racism and ethnic discrimination in Switzerland.
• are able to discern systemic and institutional issues which hinder racial and ethnic equity in organizations, with specific regards to Swiss companies.
• know how to create or improve a racial and ethnic equity program for an organization in Switzerland and know how to include key stakeholders and measures when doing so.

Course content

This course is for students who are looking to better understand race and ethnicity with regard to organizational leadership, specifically in the Swiss context. Students will learn how to implement this knowledge in their decision making to increase equity for people from underrepresented groups. They will also understand the perspective of different stakeholders, enabling them to overcome ethnocentric views and create more inclusive policies and team cultures. They will become bridge builders on their teams and be equipped with the fundamental tools to manage race and ethnicity in the workplace.

Increasing racial and ethnic equity in organizations may also impact the companyʹs performance. It will allow (future) leaders and team members to provide greater innovation, attract more talent, and widen market reach. More important than those organizational benefits, increasing racial and ethnic equity will allow employees to be more empathetic and allow for greater mutual understanding among team members and team. This will foster an environment that honors employeesʹ human rights by treating them with dignity and respect, which is the heart of diversity and inclusion.

Course structure and indications of the learning and teaching design

Two introductory classes:

• 1. A course overview, students are assigned to groups, and are given the history of diversity and inclusion and are introduced to the overarching global diversity management framework.
• 2. A segue from general dimensions of diversity to race and ethnicity and the impact on firm performance, and how companies in Switzerland deal with race and ethnic diversity.

Between the two introductory sessions and the block seminar, students will work in smaller groups. These groups will be assigned articles, for which the students will become experts. The texts assigned will be grouped into three main subtopics: Diversity Management, Racial and Ethnic Equity in Business, and Post‐Colonial Racism in Switzerland.

3 Days of Block Seminar:

• 1. Group presentations and discussions.
• 2. Group presentations and discussions.
• 3. ʺOn the trail of racismʺ field trip with historian Hans Fässler in the morning, discussion and essay preparation in the afternoon.

Contextual Studies are considered part of Contact Learning; thus, taking part properly implies regular attendance. It is the studentsʹ own responsibility to ensure that there is no timetable clash between the courses they have chosen. A detailed course outline and all relevant documents will be made available on Studynet. ‐ Only the current timetable as published on Stundenplan online does apply.