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By Hamish Armstrong (PR and Communications Manager (Interim)), Published

New undergraduate and MSc students at Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) have participated in a workshop exploring the importance of working inclusively, as part of the School’s work towards enhancing diversity, equality and inclusion.

The workshops, led by academic and professional staff across the two-week induction period, discussed the benefits and key considerations of working in an inclusive global environment. Sessions also examined how conflicts can occur through different beliefs, interpretations and behaviours across cultures, and the need to be sensitive to this in order to function in an effective and diverse team.

Students worked in groups and talked about the importance of understanding key differences in communication style, language, manners, expectations and even hierarchies of power between different communities across the world. Moreover, the sessions considered the potentially detrimental effects of feeling excluded on performance and morale, and the pitfalls of restricting diverse perspectives and ways of working.

Four students talking with each other during the workshop

Professor Lilian de Menezes, Co-Director of Racial Equity and Inclusion and Professor of Decision Sciences at Bayes Business School, said educating students about the expectations of working in a modern and diverse business environment was important for their development and a crucial platform for study.

“As an institutionwe aim to become truly diverse and inclusive,” Professor de Menezes said.

“This begins with reflecting on our own behaviours, and considering the advantages and challenges of working in multi-cultural environments with different ethnicities, genders, religions and heritages. Group working is a key part of our curriculum, and moving forward all students at Bayes will be encouraged to reflect on how they can contribute to a successful and inclusive team.

“There is lots of work to be done, and learning from one another, being prepared to challenge our own beliefs and critically reflect on new information and ideas are fundamental to Bayes.”

Malla Pratt, Co-Director for Racial Equity and Inclusion at Bayes Business School said increasing student awareness was an important step in the School’s mission to build an inclusive institution.

“The inclusive teamworking workshops highlight our expectations for new students, and allows them to consider how they can become champions of diversity both here at Bayes during their degrees and in their professional careers when they graduate.

“More than two thousand undergraduate and postgraduate students have joined us this autumn from all corners of the globe, and they all have their part to play in helping us achieve a culture of understanding and inclusion. We care. We learn. We act.”

In addition to the workshops, a complete curriculum review is ongoing to embed ethical and socially responsible values throughout our work. The School has also instituted a scholarship programme for Black UK-domiciled undergraduate students to widen participation which will cover all tuition fees along with an annual stipend for ten students from the start of the 2022/23 academic year. Further details of the scholarships will be announced shortly.

On Monday 6th September, the Business School (formerly Cass) became Bayes Business School. Read the University’s statement about the new name.

Find out more about the reasons behind Bayes Business School’s vision and purpose.