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Paper short abstract:

Although concepts of socio-cultural diversity vary in local contexts, diversity strategies by universities worldwide often seem to align with specific (Western) models. The presentation will show findings from a PhD project on diversity strategies in Ghanaian universities.

Paper long abstract:

Universities worldwide are increasingly faced with the challenge of doing justice to a socio-culturally heterogeneous group of people on their campuses. The rationale behind the adoption of diversity strategies is often articulated in terms of resolving extant social and cultural conflicts, as well as proactively mitigating instances of discrimination. However, economic considerations, such as enhanced prospects for securing international grants, wield significant influence and emerge as primary motivators for the institutionalization of these strategies.

Diversity as a concept is though interpreted differently across regions influenced by local realities and settings. And universities in Ghana as those in other parts of the world deal with socio-cultural diversity in various forms and at different institutional levels (or not at all). Despite these divergences, diversity strategies employed often exhibit formulations and frameworks that reflect, and at times overtly align with, Western strategy documents.

The presentation will highlight insights of an ongoing PhD project and statements from conducted expert interviews. The project investigates the implementation of diversity strategies at Ghanaian universities from an organizational-sociological angle and asks whether isomorphic processes in the adaptation to international standards can be identified and demonstrated by measures similar to diversity management, which has been analyzed and described in many ways in the Western higher education context. The whole investigation is based on the theoretical and historical consideration of the understanding of diversity in Ghana and globally.