The EDI team, in collaboration with IDÉOS Hub’s Accelerator, is organizing the panel discussion “Intersectional Perspectives on Women in the Workplace,” a discussion on the realities faced by women in various professional settings, highlighting the challenges, inequalities, and opportunities for action that promote inclusion and equity.
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EDI: it's everyone's business
At HEC Montréal, our differences make us better. Each member of our community plays a part in creating a space where everyone belongs and can achieve their full potential.
Learn more about equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI)
HEC Montréal’s commitment
At HEC Montréal, we strive to provide our community with a respectful and open campus for all. That means creating an environment that fosters EDI.
To guide our actions
HEC Montréal has adopted a policy on EDI containing guiding principles intended to orient our commitments and actions as well as guide the everyday behaviour of our community members.
Tools and resources
Want to find out how you can foster inclusion through your actions? Need help dealing with a discriminatory or potentially discriminatory situation?
Featured
International Women’s Day
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Need to speak to someone?
Have a question? Want to share an idea about an EDI activity? Need to speak to someone confidentially about a situation that is causing you concern?
Contact
Fadila Hamouni
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisor
Each member of our community has a part to play in making HEC Montréal an open and respectful campus. To do that, we must learn to recognize, welcome and talk about diversity.
Diversity is all of us
Diversity is a broad concept that refers to our differences and the plurality of our experiences.
This can refer to many different characteristics, such as ethnicity, religion or belonging to a racialized group. But it also includes age, social condition, disability, gender identity or expression, language, sexual orientation, political beliefs, and sex, to name a few.
Faculty and staff: our diversity
In May 2020, HEC Montréal conducted a voluntary survey to gain a clearer picture of the diversity of its faculty and staff. The survey was sent to 1,369 people, and roughly 75% of them completed it.
| Women | 56% |
| Persons with disabilities | 5% |
| Indigenous persons | 0.3% |
| Visible minorities | 18% |
| Ethnic minorities | 7% |
| Sexual and gender diversity | 6% |
"An EDI approach is a winning approach to create a learning environment that fosters exchange and meaningful connections. We are among the most committed to this cause."
–
Sébastien Arcand, Full Professor, Director of the Department of Management
Finding belonging and achieving our potential
Equity
Equity guarantees fair treatment and equal access to employment or career advancement opportunities. It also refers to the efforts made to identify and eliminate barriers to inclusion.
Inclusion
Inclusion is the action of creating and nurturing environments where each individual feels welcomed and respected in their differences, so that all people can participate fully in the School’s activities and their community.
“HEC Montréal trains the leaders of tomorrow. That’s why it’s important for us to welcome and include them today, with all the care that we expect them to show the world in the future.”
–
Guy Epassy, Coordinator – Scholarships and Financial Aid, Student Services
Simple behaviours to adopt
In adopting an EDI policy, HEC Montréal is making a sincere statement about our desire to offer a welcoming and respectful campus to our community. It’s up to us to fulfill these commitments in our relationships with others. Find out how to do it
“Building an open and tolerant community that includes all types of diversity!”
–
Marine Dandois, student
EDI: Finding the words
Talking about EDI requires the frequent use of certain terms: racism, microaggressions, unconscious bias, intersectionality and more. There are many resources available that explain what these terms mean. To get started, check out this EDI glossary from UBC.
“I am a woman of African descent, an immigrant, neurodivergent, a professional, a student and a mother. My intersectionality has infinite layers, each with its own issues. I must examine them one by one to understand my place in the world and to transcend unconscious biases.”
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Chloé Saintesprit, student, Specialized Graduate Diploma in Management of Cultural Organizations
In 2020, HEC Montréal adopted a policy on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and an action plan aligned with it. As part of this process, students, faculty and staff had the opportunity to take part in a consultation.
At HEC Montréal, our values lead us to foster a respectful and open environment where different people can live, work and study. That’s why one of the strategic objectives of our Strategic Plan is to create conditions that further promote equity, diversity and inclusion.
“HEC Montréal has a proud tradition of openness and inclusion. Our diversity of ideas, experiences and ways of thinking and seeing the world creates an abundance of intellectual and creative thought upon which we draw to stay forward thinking and demonstrate leadership. I encourage you to embody this culture every day.”
–
Federico Pasin, director
Before 2020: EDI in research and the Dimensions charter
In 2017, HEC Montréal developed an Action Plan to Promote Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research entitled “Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Keys to Excellence in Research.” The plan addressed the under-representation of the four designated groups—women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities—when allocating its Canada Research Chairs.
When we decided to adhere to the Dimensions charter in 2019, HEC Montréal joined many other Canadian institutes of higher education in committing to providing an equitable, diverse and inclusive environment for our community. The charter’s eight principles aim to foster increased research excellence, innovation and creativity within the post-secondary sector.
Striving for a more inclusive culture
HEC Montréal was originally created in 1907 to offer French-speaking students the option to study management in their own language and country. Since that time, the School has grown and transformed continuously.
Today’s student body is thriving and very conscious of the rest of the world. Nearly a third of our students hail from outside of Quebec, and all can benefit from the range of backgrounds found among our faculty and staff. Year over year, we measure how this diversity contributes to the excellence of our community.
“These types of changes require us to update our practices. Our community members must be welcomed, integrated and treated equitably. We will weave the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion into all of our policies, practices and processes.”
–
Johanne Turbide, Secretary General
"As an immigrated person, I am proud to represent a student body with a rich linguistic and cultural identity. We can build a more inclusive campus. I have committed to ensuring more women have access to the MBA program."
–
Fatiha Ghazi, MBA graduate and former President of MBA-HEC Student Association
Student survey: a concrete action in support of EDI
Further to its adoption of the Policy on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), HEC Montréal launched its first voluntary and confidential survey on diversity within the student body. In March 2021, students were asked to complete a short survey intended to provide the School with sound data it would use to create conditions that consistently promote greater equity, diversity and inclusion on campus. The survey results will be presented in Fall 2021.
HEC Montréal has adopted a policy on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) containing guiding principles intended to orient our commitments and actions and guide the everyday behaviour of our community members.
Concrete commitment
Adopting this policy is part of HEC Montréal’s efforts to provide our community with a healthy, safe and respectful working and living environment that values equity, diversity and inclusion.
We are also taking concrete actions in accordance with this priority, such as fostering an inclusive educational approach, supporting projects that encourage EDI and raising awareness.
Against all forms of exclusion
The School does not tolerate any form of exclusion. Our EDI policy gives us the means to prevent inappropriate behaviour and react swiftly to discrimination on any of the 14 grounds prohibited by law: age, social condition, political convictions, civil status, pregnancy, handicap, language, sexual orientation, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion, and sex. For more information, see the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse website.
Know your responsibilities
At HEC Montréal, everyone is expected to behave in accordance with the principles of our EDI policy and to adopt its best practices.
In the next few weeks, we will publish a practical guide to your EDI responsibilities.
Resources
We are here to support you if you are facing any situation, actions or words that go against expected behaviour. You can also choose to report this kind of behaviour.
Read our policy to learn more
The HEC Montréal Board of Directors adopted the Policy on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion on October 29, 2020. The definitive text of this policy was established following a consultation with members of our community.
Need information or support? Check out the specific resources that HEC Montréal makes available to you, students and employees alike.
For the entire community
- EDI day by day : Simple behaviours to adopt
- For a campus free from harassment and sexual violence
- Inclusive communication guide (in French)
- Qui vit quoi? Videos about people’s lived experiences regarding needs and inclusive practices at HEC Montréal (in French).
Official documents
- Policy on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at HEC Montréal (PDF, 186 KB, in French)
- Reporting mechanism for persons affected by an action, statement, or situation that is contrary to the expectations for behaviour with respect to EDI (PDF, 186 KB, in French)
For the student body
- Psychological support and resources for assistance
- Study support
- Support for disabled students
- Inclusive resources
Official document
For employees
For further information
Please consult this non-exhaustive list of essential information resources.
Need to speak to someone?
Have a question? Want to share an idea about an EDI activity? Need to speak to someone confidentially about a situation that is causing you concern?
Contact Fadila Hamouni, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisor.
edi [at] hec.ca (edi[at]hec[dot]ca)
Contact
Fadila Hamouni
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisor.