Diversity management practices in higher education: Evidence from private higher education institutions in Botswana

Abstract

Research shows that diversity and diversity management are no longer mere topical issues for debate in organisations but are now a reality to be confronted. This is so because the workplace environment has become diverse and multicultural especially in private higher education institutions Private (PHEIs). What particularly ignites debate on issues related to diversity and diversity management practices in private higher education institutions is the now felt desire to create safe, welcoming and conflict free work places in the higher education environments constituted by people of diverse backgrounds. This exploratory study investigated how diversity is understood and managed in PHEIS. The following dimensions of diversity namely nationality, race, language, disability and gender were considered as they were viewed as being more applicable in private higher education in Botswana. Results of the study showed that there is a clear understanding by institutional members from the upper to the lower echelons PHEIs of what constitutes diversity and why it needs to be managed. This research also showed that PHEIs are making commendable progress at managing diversity. Two critical short falls though noted by this study in the management of diversity are in these institutions are the failure by the private higher education institutions to effectively and adequately communicate diversity policies and strategies to all organisational members as well as failure to ensure parity in terms of gender representation at management levels. A number of recommendations were suggested to improve diversity and diversity management practices in PHEIs. A structured questionnaire that used a 5-point Likert scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree was used for data collection.

Key words: Diversity, workplace diversity, diversity management, private higher education institutions, internal 

diversity commitment, diversity policies and strategies.