Developing diversity skills with university students: The key to better relationships and the flourishing of human potential

Abstract

Purpose

Points up the importance of developing people in organizations to enhance diversity.

Design/methodology/approach

Draws on two presentations to a conference on diversity at Middlesex University, London.

Findings

Highlights the role mentoring can play, first to achieve access to graduate-employment opportunities in the public sector and secondly to enable people to work together effectively and harmoniously in teams with greater respect through awareness and appreciation of difference.

Practical implications

Describes the public-sector diversity-mentoring scheme, the primary goal was to widen the pool of applicants to graduate-employment opportunities in the sector from ethnic minorities and working-class backgrounds.

Social implications

Explains that, while respect is a common value shared by all, in one culture it may be experienced differently from in another and for teams to work harmoniously all members need to feel respected.

Originality/value

Shows how diversity is the key to better relationships and the flourishing of human potential.

Citation

Hartog, M., Haddock-Millar, J., Rigby, C. and Wilson, D. (2015), "Developing diversity skills with university students: The key to better relationships and the flourishing of human potential", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 23 No. 5, pp. 35-38. https://doi.org/10.1108/HRMID-05-2015-0091