DEI in hiring: reshaping the international education workplace

Last month at The PIE Live North America, our Global Account Director Hadil El-Agami hosted a panel exploring the implications of including diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) principles in executive recruitment for international education.

She brought together a panel to discuss the challenges, best practices and innovation in this space. She was joined by Courtney Temple, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at the Institute of International Education, Jesus Gomez, Regional Development Manager at Pearson, Canada, and Monroe France, Vice Provost for Institutional Inclusive Excellence at Tufts University.

In today’s interconnected world, where boundaries blur and global perspectives are increasingly valued, international education plays a pivotal role. It’s a catalyst for fostering understanding, collaboration, and mutual respect among diverse cultures and backgrounds. 

To harness the full potential of international education, we must ensure that it reflects the principles of DEI, not merely as a buzzword, but as a transformative force that shapes our approach to the workplace.

During the panel, France raised the question of how we begin to dismantle some of the barriers to creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce – a challenge many employers and hiring managers face. Temple responded: “We have to think about what is the immediate action that I can take or my workplace can take that will result in measurable results. 

“Make sure your decision-makers are armed with what they need to make the workplace more diverse,” she added. 

The impact of DEI extends far beyond the surface. It touches the lives of hiring managers responsible for building inclusive teams. It influences job seekers and candidates, who bring their unique experiences and perspectives. And it significantly shapes the hiring process and our ability to retain diverse talent, which is why we hosted this panel discussion. 

The true potential of DEI in the international education workplace becomes evident when we examine the profound implications it has on each of these elements. We know that diversity and inclusion are important – in fact, studies have shown that diverse teams outperform those that lack diversity both in terms of financial outcomes and innovative thinking. 

We think embracing DEI is key to employee recruitment and retention.

If you want to hear more about our panel in Boston, please get in touch – we’d love to hear from you. 

Email Jessica at jessica@thepieexecsearch.com