“Embracing Diversity”is a MOOC of Polimi Open Knowledge - POK platform (pok.polimi.it) which explores gender and sexual diversity as a driver of innovation and creativity.
The inclusion of women and LGBT people to drive innovation in academic, social and corporate environments and considers the effects of discouragement and self-exclusion on female talent in STEM.
The course considers the effects of discouragement and self-exclusion on female talent in STEM. The aim was to introduce the supporting concepts and to foster Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
The MOOC content is broken down into sections corresponding to the weeks constituting the guiding structure of the MOOC. Speakers collaborated with Polimi - METID which developed the final multimedia format.
This 4-week course is aimed at understanding what the roots of biases and stereotypes are, what practical solutions are possible to adopt to promote the inclusion of women and LGBT people in these environments, and why gender and sexual diversity drives innovation and generates new energy.
The design and implementation of the course was a participatory process including relevant stakeholders. The MOOC aimed at raising awareness of diversity as an innovation lever and tackled the underrepresentation and self-exclusion of women in STEM .
This practice is informed by MOOCs from teachers: Embracing Diversity MOOC https://www.pok.polimi.it/course/view.php?id=120#tab2