Diversity Management (5cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Objective

Having completed this study unit
Individual level:
- You recognize your cultural background and its impact on daily decision making and how they interact with each other.
- You know different diversity dimensions, your own stereotypes and biases towards others.
- You know the basic concepts of cultural diversity and are able to communicate effectively in different international environments.

Organisational and team level:
- You know theories and practices on how to work in culturally and otherwise diverse teams and organizations.
- You know theories and practices on how to contribute, collaborate, communicate and debate in diverse teams
- You know the organizations’ needs from diverse perspectives.
- You recognize the complexities arising from diversity related issues.

Societal level:
- You recognize the impact of diversity and cultural differences at a global and national level.

Competences: Internationalism and multiculturalism Competence; Sustainable Development Competence, Responsible Management and Leadership Competence

Content

- Cultural background and its impact
- Diversity dimensions, stereotypes and biases
- Basic concepts of cultural diversity
- Theories and practices of diverse teams and organizations
- Complexities arising from diversity related issues
- Organizations’ needs from diverse perspectives
- Impact of diversity and cultural differences at a global and national level
- Theories and practices on how to contribute, collaborate, communicate and debate in diverse teams
- Effective communication in different international environments.

Location and time

Teaching is carried out at the Rovaniemi campus, Spring semester 2026, weeks 14-19.
No distance learning possibility.

Materials

Lecture materials, articles, and exercises  will be provided at the beginning of the course

Teaching methods

Organized lectures
Independent knowledge acquisition activities
Individual Assignments
Group Assignments
Demonstration of competence by an exam / a report(s)

Student workload

50 hours of lectures and exercises
83 hours of independent work

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Level 1
Basics of Diversity management
You recognize the cross-cultural concepts and theories.
You know the role of culture and diversity in business.
You know the basic theories in cultural and diversity management and are able to apply them in teams and in a workplace with assistance.

Level 2
Basics of Diversity management
You know cross-cultural concepts and theories.
You understand the role and meaning of culture and diversity in business.
You understand the basic theories in cultural and diversity management and are able to apply them in teams and in the workplace.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Level 3
Basics of Diversity management
You understand cross-cultural concepts and theories and their meaning in business.
You have a good understanding of the role and meaning of culture and diversity in business.
You understand the basic theories in cultural and diversity management and are able to utilize them.

Level 4
Basics of Diversity management
You have a command of cross-cultural concepts and theories and are able to evaluate the role of culture and diversity in business.
You have a command of the role and meaning of culture and diversity in business.
You understand the theories in cultural and diversity management and are able to utilize them.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Level 5
Basics of Diversity management
You have a holistic understanding of cross-cultural concepts and theories and are able to evaluate the role and meaning of culture and diversity in business.
You can effectively and proactively use different theories of cultural and diversity management and are able to foresee the impacts of their use in teamwork and in the workplace.