What will I learn on this module?
‘Resourcing and Development for Diversity’ considers how HR practices can be utilised to ensure a diverse and inclusive workforce. This goes beyond the ‘business case’ approach to recognise other perspectives, that increasing workforce diversity does not only ensures equitable access to services and employment but also enables profitability through access to diverse markets. You will examine this premise within the wider context of social, economic and demographic changes, alongside local, national and global concerns. Your learning will focus upon resourcing and development activities, specifically, how organisations can promote diversity through recruitment and retention, ensure inclusion in organisational life and provide accessible career paths with the aim of increasing representation at senior levels. The effectiveness of practices to support this endeavour, such as monitoring workforce demographics, mentoring, network and support groups and zero tolerance of discrimination and harassment, will be examined. You will explore the role of development for ensuring that organisational commitments to diversity and inclusion are reflected in practice. In doing so, you will analyse specific organisational cases, focusing on those characteristics protected by law, as well as developing an understanding of other visible and non-visible differences, such as background, culture and accent. Your understanding will be underpinned by a consideration of the historic development of particular norms and stereotypes, how these impact on practices and how they can be challenged. You will also reflect on the ethical framework required to support diversity and inclusion, including values of openness, listening to diverse perspectives and inclusive participation in decision-making. This learning will be invaluable to your future employment, enterprise/entrepreneurial activity.
How will I learn on this module?
Your learning is supported through tutor-led and learner-led session activities, also through tutor-directed and self-directed independent study.
Tutor-led research-informed sessions will help you to develop your conceptual and theoretical understanding of the topic areas. A collaborative, learner-led, tutor-guided problem-based learning approach will support your application of these concepts and theories. Application will be made to, for example, real-world case-studies and contemporary management issues of multinational corporations, regional/local SMEs through to public and not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises drawn from within your own management sub-discipline area.
Your learning is also supported by appropriate learning technologies that include extensive and carefully curated learning resources from the worlds’ leading HR researchers and practitioners, to enable your self-directed learning.
Your independent self-directed learning will involve you self-identifying learning activities, such as further academic reading, to gain a deeper and broader knowledge of the subject.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
The learner-led, tutor-guided activities are organised in groups of around 20-30 learners working in smaller teams. This approach provides a closer, more personal academic support.
Academics will support you through the led sessions and in planning the types of activities you should be engaging in during your independent study time. They are also available upon request to support you outside of formal session time by responding to questions or concerns that you might have either via email or via individually pre-arranged appointments and/or drop-in sessions.
Academic support is also provided through the provision of a range of University learning support services. A wide range of online support materials is also available thought the virtual learning environment. These materials include recordings, webcasts, pre-recorded sessions on key academic skills, also an electronic reading list including RSS feeds that showcase the application of various practices presented in the module.
To support you in your academic progress, you will receive both formative and summative feedback on your work through the course of each academic year. Regular formative feedback on class activities provides you with the necessary guidance to scaffold your knowledge and understanding of the key concept and principles of the subject to enable your success in the final summative assessment. Summative feedback/feed-forward will be provided on your work after it has been assessed and graded. You should use all feedback that you receive to identify areas of strength and areas for future study and improvement.
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding:
• To develop an understanding of key contemporary diversity trends and the significance of resourcing and development for diversity [MLO 01]
• To develop the knowledge and understanding required to analyse and evaluate the resourcing and development needs of an organisation from a diversity management perspective [MLO 02]
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• To develop the skills required to contribute to the resourcing and development of a diverse workforce in an organisational context [MLO 03]
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• To build an awareness of diverse cultures and the requirements of a multicultural workforce [MLO 04]
• To understand the ethical aspects of managing a diverse workforce. [MLO 05]
How will I be assessed?
The one summative assessment comprises of two parts.
Part 1: Report analysing and critically evaluating the importance of resourcing and development for diversity (2000 words), (MLO 1, 2 and 3).
Part 2: Individual reflective report examining key knowledge and skills developed in terms of managing a diverse workforce (1000 words) (MLO 3, 4 and 5).
Formative feedback on your understanding of the topics covered by this module will be provided on a regular basis. The formative feedback provided will be based on your engagement with the module and your contribution to the module groupwork throughout the course of the module on a continual basis.
Pre-requisite(s)
N/A
Co-requisite(s)
None
Module abstract
‘Resourcing and Development for Diversity’ is your chance to examine how HR practices can ensure a diverse and inclusive workforce. The module explores areas such as recruitment, retention and career development in the context of social, economic and demographic changes. This enables you to develop an understanding of how norms and stereotypes have developed, and how organisational approaches can challenge them through, for example, the monitoring of workforce demographics, mentoring and zero tolerance of discrimination. You’ll apply your understanding by analysing specific organisational cases, focusing on those characteristics protected by law, as well as developing your understanding of other visible and non-visible differences. You’ll also reflect on the ethical framework required to support inclusion and diversity that includes values of openness, listening to diverse perspectives and inclusive participation in decision-making.
Course info
UCAS Code N205
Credits 20
Level of Study Undergraduate
Mode of Study 3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad
Department Newcastle Business School
Location City Campus, Northumbria University
City Newcastle
Start September 2025
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
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