CPD Courses

How can HEIs promote amongst their staff diversity and inclusion?

CPD open courses

SMILE is developing different CPD open courses. The design of each course will differ slightly depending on the specific pillar addressed as each CPD course will be made to measure to the needs and challenge of the specific pillar. The end result will be CPD courses which will include a full structure, the content and exercises.

Real cases and role models will be an essential part of these courses, so that users have the opportunity to see the situation through real stories and understand in a deeper way the importance for embedding and embracing diversity.

Role models could also help developing a more sympathising attitude towards diversity. The courses will be tested in real classes with real students and feedback will be collected, to enable the refinement of the draft CPD courses and the incorporation of those views.

SMILE will organise 3 webinars (one for each pillar) where the CPD courses will be presented and where the importance, structure and contents will be explained.

SMILE CPD courses for HE staff on...

But, before you run the courses on specific diversity issues… 

Introductory CPD course on Diversity for HE staff

The SMILE Introductory Course on Diversity  intends to give the reader self-reflective insights and examples on how to facilitate inclusive and diversity-oriented approaches in HE environments. By this, users are sensitized to an intersectional perspective on the topics of diversity and inclusion and stimulated to reflect on and improve their behaviour with disadvantaged groups in their daily work. 

This course is only an introduction to the topic. You can also download the in-focus CPD courses on students with migrant background, women in leadership and students with low socio-economic status.

SWOT Analysis of the SMILE CPD courses

The SMILE courses are being finalised right now after their piloting in 7 different universities of 7 different countries. Around 100 learners have experienced at least one of the CPDs.

During the piloting period, learners have been asked to give feedback about the CPDs, their personal experience and the usability of the CPDs.

The consortium has also discussed the challenges of implementing the courses and considered which are (or could be) the benefits that these CPDs can bring.

We would like to share with you a short SWOT analysis of the feedback collected and the SMILE internal discussion about the CPDs. If you are intending to run the SMILE courses in the future, this SWOT analysis can be of help to you for planning ahead and taking into consideration what is needed and how to face its challenges.