Building Gender-Inclusive Organisations and Outcomes

In today's rapidly changing world, promoting diversity and inclusion has become a fundamental challenge for any successful organisation. Gender inclusion, in particular, is a vital aspect of this effort. This module addresses the role of organisations as agents with the power and responsibility to create environments that embrace diversity, dismantle barriers, and promote equality for all individuals. This is not only crucial as a moral imperative but also as a strategic advantage. This module guides you through the essential principles, strategies, and practices needed to create inclusive environments where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered. Whether you are interested in multinational corporations, grassroots community organisations, social movements, digital networks, educational institutions, political parties or government agencies, this module provides context-specific valuable insights and actionable strategies to foster inclusivity. You will be encouraged to engage critically with concepts such as intersectional invisibility, the glass ceiling/cliff and inclusive leadership, considering how these shape equitable policies and practices, belongingness, community engagement, and collaboration across diverse stakeholders through examining the interaction between theoretical frameworks/debates and empirical realities.

The modules aims to provide the following:

• Advance your understanding of the importance of inclusion for organisations across various sectors, recognising the benefits it brings to individuals, teams, and organisations as a whole
• Provide you with the opportunity to contextualise and examine fundamental concepts such as gender, inclusion, organisations, unconscious biases, intersectionality, and allyship
• Introduce strategies for developing and implementing inclusive policies and practices that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organisation. You will also consider areas such as recruitment and hiring, talent development, employee support, and inclusive decision-making processes
• Explore strategies for creating a culture of belonging where individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and talents
• Examine tools to promote open dialogue, foster psychological safety, and encourage authentic expression, taking into account different organisational cultures
• An understanding of the intersectional nature of identity and its impact on individuals' experiences within organisations. You will learn how to recognise and address the unique challenges faced by individuals with intersecting identities, promoting inclusivity for all.

By the end of the module, you will:

• Develop a rich understanding of the processes and practices that promote inclusion in organisations, recognising the benefits it brings to individuals, teams, and organisational performance
• Develop a detailed theoretical and empirical understanding of organisations as gendered processes and agents with the power and responsibility to create environments that embrace diversity, dismantle barriers, and promote equality for all individuals
• Understand how social constructs influence organisational dynamics and learn strategies to address them effectively
• Develop an appreciation of the tools that promote inclusive practices within organisational contexts and drive positive change by challenging existing systems, structures, and biases
• Develop an advanced understanding about approaching case study research and comparative research and have developed skills in how to structure analysis of a single case or small set of cases in order to produce or support social scientific claims.

This module will contribute to employability by developing the following:

• Critical thinking, research and analysis
• Ability to produce clear, structured written work and oral literacy (including active listening and questioning)
• Teamwork
• Presentation and effective communication
• Interpersonal skills
• Valuing diversity and difference
• Interdisciplinary thinking and problem-solving.

The standard entry requirements comprise:

• A 2:2 honours degree or international equivalent
• A CV and personal statement outlining your reasons for study
• English language band B (for example, IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each skill).

The module is assessed via coursework and group presentation, as follows:

• One 2,500-word consultancy report/policy brief (not including bibliography/references and footnotes) = 70%
• One multi-media group presentation = 30%.

This is an on-campus module, so you will be expected to attend in-person lectures and seminars. Exact times and dates are to be confirmed upon enrolement. 

This module is offered as part of our flexible master’s awards in Professional Development. The awards are one of the most flexible currently offered in the UK, providing the opportunity to study a range of modules from across King’s, both on-campus and online. Whether you are looking for a promotion or to retrain, you have come to the right place.   

Designed for mature professionals juggling life and work commitments, our postgraduate awards will enable you to study at your own pace. In challenging financial times, you are also able to fund your studies module-by-module.   

We will support you to select the right module diet that meets your objectives while ensuring that you are well prepared for success. We will also help you to build your professional network of peers from across our suite of CPD modules.  

We can’t wait for you to continue your lifelong learning journey here at King’s.