Policies regarding equal opportunities in education.
Suciu, Marta-Christina ; Neagu, Ana-Maria
Abstract: This paper debates equal opportunities in education
trying to suggest some alternative policies in order to ensure the
prerequisites for learning in a flexible and open context, within
Romanian higher education institutions (HEIs). By adopting sustainable
policies (together with mechanisms to promote educational policies)
universities may lead to an efficient and effective allocation,
distribution and promotion of knowledge. Equality of chance issue is
both necessity and opportune in the context of economic crisis. Equality
refers to respecting and promoting welfare in and through education for
social cohesion, progress and human development. Worldwide there are
concerns for promoting equality of chance in order to achieve social
cohesion, by promoting the principles of social inclusion, diversity
management and intercultural dialogue.
Key words: policies to promote equal opportunities, diversity,
discrimination, tertiary education
1. INTRODUCTION
Over time, different views were crystallized regarding equality of
chance and diversity. Some authors have considered that equality could
not exist within a world where economic interests act sometime as
constraints for personal development. In our country the majority of the
studies concerning these topics are at the beginning. That has been one
of the most important limitations of our research; the lack of data and
people being quite sceptical had also been limitative factors for our
research. Equality is a very complex concept that regards: equality as a
condition; equality as a normative prerequisite and as a solution to
gender discrimination; equality as an objective of a healthy society.
With respect to the meritocratic approach of equality, respecting
diversity and providing equal opportunities might be seen as a
significant value contributing both to the professional and personal
development of each individual. The topics of equal opportunities and
diversity can be applied in many areas including education. Equal
opportunity in education represents not only a wish towards ensuring the
necessary conditions of equality and fairness to individuals but also o
prerequisite of ethics and mutual respect. The educational systems have
to face today many and complex challenges: schools are no longer
traditional institutions; mostly HEI's reflect an educational
framework that is supportive for promoting a special system of values in
favor of democracy and justice. The main objectives for contemporary
educational systems is to teach students in such a manner as to
determine them to trait each other as equals and to prepare them to act
in the future as equal citizens, breaking the barriers of race, gender,
religion and culture (Suciu et al., 2010). The concepts analyzed are
complex including many lines of application from business, sociology,
education to economics and law. The author's approach had been
focus on a qualitative analysis on the basis of which we had tried to
identify some critical points regarding effective policies dedicated to
support equality & diversity in a diverse educational background.
2. EQUALITY DILEMMA IN HIGHER EDUCATION
There is no worldwide unique recipe for success on equal
opportunities issues in all educational systems. Little & Green had
proposed five sets of policies that seem to offer valuable guidance and
relevant lessons to achieve a successful equal opportunities in the
context of globalization (Little & Green, 2008). The first policy
refers to mass education that helps marginalized people to improve their
knowledge. The second one militates for the expansion of education and
especially of the tertiary education. The third one is directed such as
to contribute to the development of communication abilities both for
students and for all staff members, including mostly teachers.
Completing the first third, the fourth looks at equitable expansion of
educational processes. The fifth one refers to the awareness of
educational institutions to promote social cohesion and the principles
of an inclusive society. Stereotypes, ethnic discrimination,
preconceived opinions and attitudes are unfortunately also present in
our country. Some studies addressing the issue of gender equality showed
that students (male and female) enrolled in engineering studies perceive
an unequal climate of education and they also feel gender discrimination
to some extent (Suciu et al., 2009). In line with this orientation the
National Council for Combating Discrimination (CNCD) published some
survey focusing on this topic both in 2009 and 2010. Enquire results
reflect the presence of attitudes with high degree of discrimination,
especially against some certain groups such as: people with
disabilities, Roma people and people with HIV. 62% of respondents in
2010 enquiry identified that discrimination is a common and very common
phenomenon in Romania. Interaction with persons belonging to these
categories is moderately accepted by the majority, if these interactions
occurs in public (at work). It seems that the private space is less open
for sharing with Roma people.
The education system is not an exception regarding these attitudes
but it seems that this kind of attitudes are manifested at a much
smaller scale. To support promoting equal opportunities in education we
suggest a series of policies that can lead to improved access to
universities in our country. These policies are the result of a
qualitative analysis that we had undertaken in universities. Based on
this qualitative analysis we identified some critical points such as:
the absence of effective and efficient policies dedicated to support
equality & diversity; the presence of a declarative attitude; lack
of data and information concerning concepts such as equality and
diversity. We found that mostly at the institutional level there are no
explicit policies or measures designed in order to encourage equal
opportunities, diversity and intercultural dialogue. These aspects were
not considered to be a specific subject of a focused strategy oriented
to attract and keep employees and students belonging to all the
categories considered to be discriminated.
The paper takes into consideration the difficulties that students
and staff might experience in direct relation with universities. We
identified also some difficulties experienced by people with
disabilities that are sometimes overlooked or unnoticed. Unfortunately
students also identify a differential treatment present within an
institutional context and at the colleague's level. There had been
identified cases of discrimination on all levels: gender discrimination,
ethnic discrimination, age discrimination and income discrimination.
That is why we consider of great importance to support special policy
and strategies dedicated to equality & diversity. As compared to
some examples of good practices from HEI in other countries in Romania
we consider that HEI face a lack of data that makes quite difficult the
process of monitoring diversity and equality of opportunities. We
consider there is important to assign specific responsibility to persons
that might contribute to ensure and monitor the way principles of
diversity and equality of chances are respected and promoted in an
adequate manner. More than the difficulties identified there is also a
lack of any concern for quality analysis and satisfaction at work for
employees. Most of these shortcomings are not unique and specific for
only one university, but for almost all universities in our country.
Most of the laws and measures adopted up to now are in our opinion
rather declarative than factual. In our country institutions that have
responsibility for implementing equal opportunities generally have
little influence, little power and tools to prevent and correct
discrimination. It is important to implicate all institutional actors
for preventing and combating discrimination but this implies costs and
such costs are covered neither by the state budget nor by the
institutional budget. So it still remains an open and challenging
question: What higher education institution should do in order to
prevent and fight against discrimination?
Suggestions we recommend to be taken into account at the
institutional level by each university:
* To focus on establishing a greater responsibility regarding equal
opportunities and diversity
* To elaborate an equality of opportunities action plan as it
exists in all the European universities
* To upgrade regularly their websites with information's and
to provide brochures that might support an equality climate by informing
students staff and managers
* To ensure an appropriate infrastructure for students with
disabilities so they feel they are welcome within the university
educational environment.
Suggestions we recommend to be taken into account by the managerial
staff:
* To include within their meeting's agenda issues such as:
equality, equity and diversity
* To encourage the organization of events dedicated to promote
equality and diversity
* To incorporate principles of diversity and equal opportunities
within the human resource policy (including also the university human
resource development plan)
* To assign at least one person to monitor compliance with the
principles of equality and to handle cases of discrimination
* To organize seminars, workshops and symposia dedicated to
promoting non-discrimination and equal treatment
* To implement some modular training courses on equality and
diversity theme that will take into account current legislation and some
international best practice examples.
Suggestions for students who have also to contribute by:
* Implicating them self into promoting equal opportunities and
diversity
* Participating to all events dedicated to these subjects
* To treat and be treated with dignity and respect.
Taking into account the EU educational context, we consider that
Romania needs to amplify the catching-up process in implementing
policies dedicated to support equality, diversity and intercultural
dialogue. Equal opportunities and diversity bring together strengths and
weaknesses and contribute to the general welfare. We believe that by
promoting equality and diversity we can reduce costs and increase
benefits. In our country equality and diversity issue have to be
considered as a result of a mix of policies. We believe that in Romania
in order to enjoy the benefits of equal opportunities and diversity we
need to change first some mentalities. These changes attract a growth of
expenses, so we have to better consider equality as an investment, not
as a cost. For each country, public institutions or organizations
benefit of the freedom to choose any measures needed to ensure and to
promote the principles of equal treatment and diversity. Examples of
good practice can be also helpful and most initiatives are channeled to
local, regional or institutional domains.
3. CONCLUSION
As a general conclusion we highlight that the topic chosen for this
paper is subject to a constant changeable framework both on the
international and national level. Beyond the novelty of this topic
authors believe that the decision makers need to become concern about
the need to act for ensuring equal opportunities and diversity. This
research topic is a complex one. That is why we support the idea of a
holistic vision. Research dedicated to this topic has a certain
limitation to universities policies and degree of interest on equality
issue. Authors believe that research studies dedicated to these topics
have to be extended by designing a general methodology for evaluating
and monitoring the promotion of equality and diversity in universities.
The above mentioned methodology has to take into account the opinions of
students, employees and decision makers involved actively in higher
education, and results of investigations undertaken so far show the need
for more research on a wide range of components. We consider there is a
need to develop further research regarding some areas of interest
concerning equal opportunities, diversity and management of diversity
both at the national, regional and microeconomics level.
4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The paper disseminates results of the research project
"Equality of chances-prerequisite for a sustainable development.
System of evaluation diversity within Romanian organizations",
Partnerships 92116/ Parteneriate 92116), coordinated by Academy of
Economic Studies Bucharest.
5. REFERENCES
Little, A., Green, A. (2008) Successful globalisation, education
and sustainable development, International Journal of Educational
Development, Vol 29 pag 166-174, ISSN: 0738-0593
Suciu M-C, Neagn A-M, Ivanovici M, (2009) Students Perception on
Gender Equality at the Politehnica University of Bucharest, Annals of
DAAAM for 2009 & Proceedings of the 20th International DAAAM
Symposium, ISBN 978-3901509-70-4, pages 424, 2009, ISSN 1726-9679
Suciu C, Pirciog S, Platis M, Neagu A-M, Ivanovici M, (2010)
Education, Equality and Social Cohesion. An overview of Romanian Case,
Proceedins of the 15th IBIMA Conference, pages 1739-1745, ISBN:
978-09821489-4-5
*** (2009) http://www.cncd.org.ro--National Council for Combating
Discrimination, Barometer of opinion on discrimination, Accessed on
10.03.2011
*** (2010) http://www.cncd.org.ro--National Council for Combating
Discrimination, Barometer of opinion on discrimination, Accessed on
15.03.2011
