EURAM POLICY ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Overview
EURAM MISSION is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion as core values in the business and management scholars’ community. As part of this commitment, we hope that this policy will guide the behaviour of EURAM leaders and members during all activities and events of the Society.
This policy is based on the idea that leveraging the skills, talents, and perspectives of a more diverse group of scholars can enable business and management academics, as well as universities in general, to better fulfil their missions. The variety of viewpoints stemming from different life experiences may not only foster knowledge creation but may also enrich debates and strengthen decision-making. With this policy, EURAM states its commitment to enhance the representation of historically underrepresented groups and to support their participation to academic life.
EURAM is convinced that an inclusive environment is fundamental to achieve its objectives. An inclusive environment may, in fact, empower its members to contribute their distinct perspectives, identities, and life experiences to the collective pursuit of the institutional goals.
1. Organization of the conference
Diversity and inclusion are the main principles guiding the organization of the EURAM conference. The Society attracts academics from any background, career stage, or country of origin, who can freely participate in any events and feel that they belong to the community.
1.1. Topics and call for papers
1.1.1. The selection of the conference theme is expected to consider diversity and inclusion, i.e., the proposal should incorporate a consideration of how this topic would be of interest to a diverse range of participants.
1.1.2. The call for papers is expected to include different perspectives, even if they differ from those generally considered by the organizers.
1.2. Speakers and plenary sessions
1.2.1. Speakers are expected to be chosen based on relevance and expertise, but also avoiding homogeneity, lack of representation, or tokenism, considering the conference as a whole, searching for a balance in the number of women, institutions, countries, and ethnical groups that participate as speakers.
1.2.2. Plenary sessions with multiple speakers are expected to exemplify this diversity. Organisers should actively seek a proper combination of gender, ethnical groups, and perspectives. All-male, all-women, all from the same country, or all from the same institution sessions should be avoided.
1.3. Tracks, symposiums, and contributions
1.3.1. Track and symposium organizers from different genders, countries and institutions are encouraged
1.3.2. The order of authors in the submissions are encouraged to reflect the implication and involvement of those and, in case it is equal, alphabetic order is preferred.
1.3.3. All speakers are encouraged to acknowledge the contributions made by collaborators, and to co-present jointly authored paper.
2. Attending the Conference
All EURAM conference attendees (including guest speakers) commit to contributing to a positive and inclusive conference environment that promotes mutual learning, collaboration, professionalism, and respect for others.
2.1. Ensuring a safe and respectful environment
2.1.1. EURAM attendees are expected to engage in a respectful and constructive dialogue with other attendees and to not engage in any behaviour that disrupts or detracts from the purpose of the conference.
2.1.2. EURAM encourages the free expression and exchange of scientific ideas in its conference in an inclusive environment. EURAM attendees should refrain from actions, verbal or non-verbal, that create a hostile environment, even if such actions do not target specific individuals.
2.1.3. Chairs should try to find ways to ensure that no individuals or groups dominate the time available or the discussion, and to make sure that all attendants can contribute to the debate. This could mean actively encouraging participation from communities or individuals that are easily overlooked or marginalised.
2.1.4. EURAM attendants are not expected to harass any participants for personal characteristics. Harassment encompasses unwelcome behaviour that creates an environment perceived as demeaning, intimidating, abusive, hostile, or offensive by a reasonable person.
2.1.5. EURAM expects that all participants behave responsibly in the activities in which they participate.
2.1.6. Bullying, deliberate intimidation (by physical or verbal aggressiveness), stalking, unauthorized or inappropriate photography or recording, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention, will not be tolerated.
3. Accessibility
EURAM needs to be accessible to people regardless of their personal condition. Therefore, the society will take into account a series of aspects linked to physical access to the Conference as well as access to EURAM content and material on the web.
3.1. Accessibility at the conference
3.1.1. Organisers are encouraged to consider factors such as the timing of school holidays, relevant religious festivals, national holidays, and caring responsibilities when suggesting dates so that speakers and other participants to give greater opportunity to participate.
3.1.2. Notifications of the accepted papers, invitations to keynote speakers, and other involved people are expected to be given with sufficient notice so that they can organize their stay.
3.1.3. When needed, additional help for special needs will be provided. Food will be diverse enough to guarantee that different participants can attend (e.g., allergies, vegetarian).
3.1.4. Information about how to reach the conference, public transport and the availability of facilities nearby are expected to be provided in advance once the conference is announced.
3.2. Accessibility through the web
3.2.1. Events of EURAM that require participation are expected to be notified in advance to organise it.
3.2.2. Events online are expected to be preceded by an email asking for special needs, so that they may be adapted to those special needs.
3.2.3. Long face-to-face events are expected to include breaks to avoid long screen periods.
4. Communicating breach of this policy
In case of infringements of these principles, please send an email to the EURAM Professional and Research Integrity Committee.