Cambridge University has been accused of anti-white bias after telling departments to ensure every interview shortlist includes a candidate from an “under-represented group”. The Telegraph has the story.
The “diverse recruitment framework” further encourages recruiters to readvertise positions if the longlist of candidates “is not diverse”, such as if it is all white or male.
The guidance, currently in use at the university, also says interview panels should be “diverse both in gender and race” and composed of individuals who have taken training courses in equality, diversity, inclusion and unconscious bias. …
Documents seen by the Telegraph show that the guidance, first issued in 2019, is copied word for word in “hiring instructions” sent to academics involved in recruitment processes at the university.
The framework advises academics that recruitment panels should not be made up entirely of “white males” or “people with a particular career track record”.
It reads: “Conduct the shortlisting with more than one person on the panel, ideally forming the panel that is diverse both in gender and race if possible.
“Research shows that when the final applicant pool has only one minority candidate, they are unlikely to be offered the position: try to ensure that more than one candidate from under-represented groups is invited to [the] interview stage.
“If the longlist is not diverse, you do not have to appoint someone immediately, consider readvertising the position to encourage a more diverse shortlist.”
Elsewhere, it says all members of recruitment panels “must have completed the online University modules on E&D [equality and diversity] and Understanding Unconscious Bias”.
Those involved in hiring decisions are also told to “reflect” on the university’s diversity commitments, “their own biases” and the potential for “implicit bias” before interviews and after selecting a favoured candidate.
A source familiar with the workings of Cambridge’s diversity committee said members were told “don’t worry about it” when they raised questions about the policies’ legality. …
They went on to claim that they had witnessed colleagues from backgrounds that are not under-represented – such as white people and men – being actively discouraged from applying to positions because of their race or sex.
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