Supporting diversity in faculties: Cultural diversity in practice

Faculties and departments have many innovative ways to promote, celebrate and support diversity. This page provides a sample of just one of those good practice activities in each faculty, from a more detailed document: 'Examples of good practice'. (pdf 71KB)

This material comes from the annual Equity and Diversity Audit, which gathers feedback from faculties and departments about access, support, monitoring and communication for all students, including equity students, international students and those from other diverse backgrounds. If you would like a more comprehensive outline and description of practice and progress across the University, please contact Equity and Diversity Planning for a copy of the Equity and Diversity Audit 2005 - email Jill Barker or phone 8344 9341.

Architecture, Building & Planning
Arts
Economics & Commerce
Education
Engineering
Land & Food Resources
Law
Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences
Music
School of Graduate Studies
Science
Veterinary Science

ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND PLANNING

As a professional faculty with a large international student cohort, ABP has always endeavoured to ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of all students. A range of subjects with an Asian focus, a cross-cultural subject, off-shore intensives and international fieldtrips are offered.

ARTS

In 2005, the Faculty made available funds to departments and schools for all first year students to be interviewed on a one-on-one basis, in each of their subjects, to discuss their progress and transition.

ECONOMICS AND COMMERCE

Within several subject areas, where group work is a requirement of the tutorial program, additional workshops and required reading are structured. This is to ensure that these tutors in particular are equipped to assist students in the development of diverse teams/groups, negotiate differences in the formation of small groups and are able to troubleshoot when differences emerge.

EDUCATION

Members of the Faculty are actively engaged in several projects geared towards improving teaching and learning for cultural diversity in the Faculty. In 2005, the following four projects were funded under the Cultural Diversity Infusion Grants scheme:

• Teaching and Professional Practice Tuition Scheme for International Students
• A cultural diversity training scheme for University Teaching and Professional Practice Supervisors and Field Supervisors of International Early Childhood Education students
• Thesis Writing Circle
• Using Diversity Dolls in Early Childhood Settings.

ENGINEERING

In order to determine the language competency of international students, undergraduate and postgraduate students all take the DELA. As a result of the test, students may be referred on to support programs at LLSU or Engineering Study Skills seminars. An academic writing task has been implemented as part of the Faculty Transition Program. Students performing at a particular standard were referred to the Engineering Study Skills Session and a range of LLSU support.

LAND AND FOOD RESOURCES

In order to develop an inclusive curriculum that considers the experience of the culturally diverse student cohort - including international students - certain subjects such as 'The Global Seminar' are conducted where international universities and their students take part in the subject and various discussions.

LAW

The Faculty appoints Equal Opportunity Liaison Officers (academic staff members) for students from Indigenous; International and Non-English speaking; Queer (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex); Mature Age; and Disabilities backgrounds.

MEDICINE, DENTISTRY AND HEALTH SCIENCES

The small group teaching resulting from the focus on Problem Based Learning assists with reducing any distinction between international students and local students. The close contact PBL tutors and academic staff have with students enables them to communicate the expected learning practices. PBL tutors have specific training in this area.

MUSIC

Guidelines which communicate the expected learning practices, including issues such as the policy on plagiarism, approaches to assessment, group and individual work and the student /supervisor relationship issues, are provided in print form in the Undergraduate Course and Subject Guide and are reiterated in individual subject guides, in print and on the website. Time commitment statements are also published and discussed early in the semester.

SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES (sgs)

SGS conducts supervisors' workshops Cross-Cultural Issues in Supervision to help supervisors understand the influence of culture in the student-supervisor relationship. Participants learn the skills and knowledge required to successfully resolve conflict and handle mismatched expectations. New supervisors undertake compulsory training that covers a range of issues including culture.

SCIENCE

The position of Manager, Student Access, Equity and Diversity is a tangible demonstration of the Faculty's commitment to equity and diversity issues. This position is involved in the development of Faculty responses to cultural diversity planning, to the Disability Action Plan and to the need to increase participation of students from various equity groups.

VETERINARY SCIENCE

Curricula are determined by professional accreditation requirements. International relevance is given in relation to diseases that are exotic to Australia, but which may be endemic in the home countries of our international students.