Selection panels will consider diversity factors including LGBTIQA+, gender and ethnic backgrounds
The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has ditched the word “merit” from its hiring process, due to concerns of “bias.”
The university, instead, “does not want everybody to look the same” and will focus on hiring a diversity of personalities.
The policy will, however, require selection panels to consider the diversity of responses, including those from Indigenous, multicultural, and LGBT+ backgrounds.
Margaret Sheil, vice-chancellor at QUT, was concerned that “merit” could reflect a type of bias.
She claimed, “There isn’t a way of being colour-blind that’s not got some form of bias into it.”
“I’ve been working in improving diversity in academic environments my entire career; it’s got nothing to do with contemporary politics,” she said.
“We need to access the entire talent pool, and we don’t want everybody to look the same.”
Liberal National Party Senator Gerard Rennick raised concerns about the policy in a post to X on Nov. 20.
“If…
Read the full article here