Engaging a diverse workforce is crucial for companies’ competitive edge, according to research. Teams featuring more perspectives tend to make better decisions.
An equity and inclusion certification is one way to create a more inclusive workplace. These programs aim to educate HR managers and staff members on its principles.
Certifications
Individuals seeking to enhance their understanding of diversity and inclusion have many online courses available, which often combine lecture with group discussion and can be completed at your own pace. Some classes may require additional assignments or interactive activities so be sure to plan ahead. Some programs also provide networking opportunities with other DEI professionals which is an invaluable way to expand your network while simultaneously developing new skills in this area.
No matter your role – HR professional or organizational leader – getting certified in Diversity and Inclusion will equip you with the tools to promote an inclusive workplace culture. These courses aim to empower leaders by giving them effective strategies and critical thinking techniques they can implement into daily work practice; additionally they will help create more diverse workplaces while creating lasting change.
An organization’s investment in diversity equity and inclusion training can pay dividends in employee morale and productivity improvements as well as improved market competitiveness and top talent acquisition and retention. Studies demonstrate that employees who feel included are more engaged and productive. Training of this sort is especially relevant to people in managerial positions or those seeking managerial careers in the future.
Cornell University provides one of the world’s premier diversity certification programs: eCornell. Available online and in person, this certification course is ideal for HR professionals and managers, featuring case studies taught by leading professors as well as expert interviews and weekly videos to keep participants up-to-date with diversity issues in the workplace. Cornell’s curriculum covers every aspect of diversity and inclusion within workplace environments.
The eCornell Diversity Leadership Intensive is a four-course program that will teach you how to develop an inclusive diversity & inclusion strategy for your organization. Offered online in convenient modules, this comprehensive course can be taken over afternoon or evening hours led by experienced instructors.
Courses
Diversity equity and inclusion courses are increasingly being offered by various organizations – universities and professional associations alike – providing practical knowledge that can immediately be put to use in the workplace. Companies use such courses as an effective means to foster more inclusive environments while simultaneously improving overall business performance; employees also feel valued for contributing towards creating a diverse company culture.
University of Michigan’s Online Diversity and Inclusion Course is an extremely popular option. This free course, designed for students of all levels, provides an introduction to diversity and inclusion principles in the workplace and covers topics like diversity definition, impact of discrimination and creating more inclusive environments.
Academy To Innovate HR offers an excellent certification program in diversity and inclusion called Specialist Certification of Diversity and Inclusion, featuring four fast-paced courses focused on understanding cultural differences, inclusive communication practices and overcoming biases. Ideal for leaders at all levels as well as HR professionals alike. Live online delivery makes this course available as either a certificate program or standalone courses.
Cornell University offers an in-depth diversity and inclusion course online that covers the importance and implementation of diversity policies within workplace environments, history of systemic racism, sexism and prejudice as well as learning how to identify their own unconscious biases. This seven-week course also discusses systemic racism sexism prejudice as well as ways in which students can identify themselves when it comes to unconscious biases that exist within themselves and teach how they can overcome them.
Coursera’s free diversity and inclusion course takes 13 hours to complete and features lectures by experts in the field, videos, assignments and discussions – making this ideal for anyone wanting to increase awareness about diversity in the workplace.
The Academy for Inclusion and Diversity is offering a new certificate program called the Social Difference, Diversity, and Inclusion Certificate. Comprised of four online courses that can be taken at any time with each lasting three weeks including assignments, discussion forums, videos, and verified certificates from AID upon completion.
Mentoring
Mentoring can help create an inclusive workplace by connecting employees and encouraging them to share experiences and advice, which in turn has a positive effect on business operations and contributes to diversity initiatives while improving morale across an organization.
Mentorship programs may take the form of one-to-one or group mentoring relationships. Companies typically select minority employees and pair them with management-level employees who will help them gain leadership experience and ascend corporate ladder. This type of program can easily promote diversity within an organization and can easily be tracked by managers; however, it doesn’t address issues contributing to its lack of diversity.
Integrating mentoring into the organization and making it part of its culture can be challenging, since many employees may be unwilling to participate. If it can be made clear that this initiative is more than a mere “nice thing to do”, and can actually offer tangible advantages for those participating, more employees may take part.
At its core, businesses should strive for a diverse and inclusive culture in their policies, procedures and day-to-day operations. This can be accomplished by offering training to all employees as well as encouraging open discussions around issues of discrimination, harassment, equity and inclusion. Mentor programs that focus on various forms of diversity such as gender, race, religion, sexual orientation age or ability may also help.
No matter where you stand on diversity issues, finding the appropriate certification program for yourself or your workplace and community is of utmost importance. Certification will enable you to identify and correct biases which have kept marginalized groups from being represented, treated fairly and included within workplace environments. Once complete, this certification program can enable lasting change that fosters truly inclusive cultures within workplaces and communities alike.
Certification Exam
This certification from the University of South Florida Muma College of Business provides individuals who want to improve their diversity and inclusion management skills with four courses available over seven weeks, each covering a different topic for three hours each. Participants will have access to online platforms with discussion forums.
This graduate-level course is tailored for DEIA leaders and organizational executives, giving participants the tools needed to foster an inclusive culture at every level. Topics covered in the course include identifying and managing common barriers to inclusion; staff training and development programs, brand transformation to align with inclusivity values and more. Furthermore, participants complete both a professional candidate project as well as an exam.
This course provides an in-depth examination of current trends and best practices related to diversity and inclusion leadership, while offering you an excellent chance to network with leaders from around the world. Furthermore, this training will equip you with all of the knowledge needed to implement and sustain an effective diversity and inclusion strategy within your organization.
Courses are delivered virtually in an interactive classroom setting and feature engaging instructors who offer invaluable insights. Attendance at these courses is free; registration must take place prior to attending.
In addition to the curriculum, this program also features free access for one year to Symposium events – live virtual Zoom sessions featuring Cornell faculty and experts addressing some of today’s pressing DEI topics such as unconscious biases and microaggressions.
This certificate program offers DEI practitioners and senior executives a unique perspective, exploring both the short-term and long-term advantages of inclusive organizational environments. Practitioners gain a framework for measuring their efforts’ impact while senior executives gain strategic knowledge for supporting and expediting team efforts.