Guidance to support academics’ CPD choices which take into account EDI and sustainability

Supporting guidance

As part of the CMBE CPD Code of Conduct educators “are encouraged to consider how their selection of CPD activities supports the highest levels of professional ethics, equality, diversity, inclusion and sustainability.”

We do want you to consider your responsibilities to your students, your peers, to society and the planet when thinking about your development needs and the CPD you undertake. Whilst it is not mandatory to do so we hope that CMBEs will give due consideration to this, and over time we will build a picture, through CMBEs’ CPD submissions of how, business and management educators are addressing EDI and sustainability through teaching.

To support you to think about this, here are some areas to consider:

1. Do you need support teaching diverse cohorts to ensure everyone benefits equally from your teaching?

You could consider undertaking some training. This would help you to accrue CPD units in the following areas:

CMBE CPD activity areas: Training programme participation; Event participation

2. Does the subject matter you teach equip students with knowledge, skills and behaviours which value EDI and sustainability?

Consider reviewing and updating the content of your lessons and materials. This could help you to gain CPD units in the following areas:

CMBE CPD activity areas: Reflection and development; Design of learning & teaching; Related private studies

3. Does your school have a lack of diversity within its faculty and/or senior leadership team?

If you are in a leadership position you can address this through strategic interventions or working towards institutional accreditations such as Athena SWAN. There may be training or mentoring schemes you can organise for under-represented groups to support their development and promotion. You could also get involved in sector initiatives to deliver change. This would help you to accrue CPD units in the following areas:

CMBE CPD activity areas: Academic leadership; Imparting knowledge specific to educational practice; Community contributions

4. Does the CPD activity you would like to undertake have an impact on the environment?

If so, can it be undertaken in a more sustainable way? If the activity requires extensive travel, is there an equivalent activity offered more locally or online? Can you organise for it to take place within your institution to reach a larger group of educators?

Resources

The following resources may offer a guide to the principles in equality, diversity, inclusion, and sustainability which you can reflect on when thinking about your development and your educational practices.

UN sustainable Development Goals
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300

PRME
https://www.unprme.org/about-prme/the-six-principles.php

Athena SWAN
https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/charters/athena-swan-charter#principles

Chartered ABS principles on diversity, equality and inclusion
https://charteredabs.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/CABS-equality-diversity-and-inclusion-principles.pdf