Telecom SudParis Parity, Equality, Diversity and Disability Strategic Plan
Welcome guide for students of Telecom SudParis Institut Polytechnique de Paris
Telecom SudParis, a prestigious graduate school specialized in digital sciences and technology, is committed to promoting parity, equality, diversity and the inclusion of disabled persons. The aim of this document is to set out a clear and ambitious road map to ensure every member of our community benefits from a respectful and inclusive learning environment. This initiative is fully in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reflects our commitment to progress in our internal practices and to have a positive impact on the society of tomorrow, through our training mission.
Vision and Strategic Objectives
VISION
Our goal is to create an institution in which all individuals feel respected, recognized for their worth, and capable of reaching their full potential, regardless of their gender, origin, disability or any other personal characteristic. This corresponds in particular to SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). As a training institute, we are committed not only to changing our internal practices, but also to training women and men who are capable of becoming key players in these societal evolutions.
Objectives
1. To promote gender parity
Telecom SudParis intends to increase the proportion of women among its students, academic staff and administrative team. The graduate school also pledges to facilitate women’s access to management positions. This initiative aligns with SDG 5, which aims to achieve equal representation of the sexes in institutions and to empower all women. As we train future generations of engineers, we strive to instill a culture of parity in both business and society. To this end, we rely on the active support of our alumni and student associations, who will play a key role in championing parity.
Furthermore, we work closely with the Women Ambassadors program of Fondation Mines-Télécom and Institut Mines-Télécom, the aim of which is to inspire and support girls on their path towards careers in science and technology.
2. To ensure equal opportunities
It is vital to eliminate discrimination in all its forms and to implement mechanisms to support students and staff from underrepresented backgrounds. These efforts contribute to SDGs 4 and 10, respectively by ensuring quality education for all and reducing inequalities within and between countries.
By incorporating these values into our courses, we are preparing students to promote equal opportunity in their future careers. The student associations on our campuses will help us to implement these support mechanisms and spread awareness about these issues.
3. To promote diversity
Encouraging and celebrating cultural, ethnic and social diversity within the graduate school are our priorities. We promise to integrate different perspectives into our educational programs and research activities. This also meets SDGs 10 and 16, by promoting peaceful, inclusive societies.
The future engineers of Telecom SudParis will become the ambassadors of diversity in the professional world and beyond. Initiatives taken by our student associations will be encouraged and supported, to favor all forms of diversity on our campuses.
4. Inclusion of people with disabilities
Facilities and teaching tools must be adapted to accommodate disabled students and staff. We are committed to raising awareness about the inclusion of disabled persons and to training the school community accordingly. This action is in keeping with SDG 4, which aims to ensure access to quality education for all, and SDG 10, which aims to reduce inequality. By educating our students on inclusion, we contribute to building a fairer and more inclusive society. The student associations will be involved in the effort to raise awareness and adapt, in order to support and encourage these inclusion measures.
Strategic areas
Gender parity
It will be a priority to set up specific mentoring and support programs for students coming from sectors with strong female representation. We will organize events and awareness campaigns to highlight the importance of parity and will monitor and publish the school’s parity statistics. These initiatives demonstrate our commitment to exercising a positive influence on internal practices and instilling these parity values among our students. The student associations will contribute to getting this message across and will participate in the organization of such events.
Close links with our alumni network will help us assert our influence on such inspirational programs as Femmes@numérique and Femmes Ingénieures. Lastly, these efforts are strengthened by our involvement with the Women Ambassadors program of Fondation Mines-Télécom and Institut Mines-Télécom, the aim of which is to inspire and support girls on their path towards careers in science and technology.
Equal opportunity
Scholarships and financial support will be granted to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. We will enter into partnerships with academic institutions and associations to encourage a diversity of applicants, and provide continual non-discrimination training for all staff. Through these actions, we are strengthening our role as drivers of equal opportunity, both internally and within society.
The student associations will also play an active part by ensuring communication with and support for potential beneficiaries, through Les Cordées de la Réussite and Les Partenariats d’Excellence.
Finally, the Equal Opportunity Centre of Institut Polytechnique de Paris will be a valuable ally in these initiatives, contributing their expertise and resources to promote the social and academic inclusion of students from all walks of life.
Diversity
We will incorporate diversity and inclusion modules into the academic syllabus. Initiatives and student groups that embrace diversity will be endorsed, and we will play a part in national and international events on the theme of diversity. We will thus develop a diversity culture that will have an impact on the professional behavior of our graduates. The student associations will receive support to carry out projects and activities that promote diversity.
Inclusion of people with disabilities
An infrastructure audit will be conducted to identify accessibility needs. We will develop suitable, accessible teaching tools and count on the School Disability Officer to support the students and staff concerned. By adopting these measures, we are establishing an inclusion standard that will serve as a model to be shared with the student associations involved in setting up the monitoring of inclusion measures.
Monitoring and Assessment
A monitoring committee will be set up, composed of representatives of the different stakeholders (students, faculty members, administration staff). Yearly surveys will be conducted to assess the efficiency of the implemented measures and how they are perceived. An annual Strategic Plan progress report will be published. These regular assessments will enable us to adjust our strategies in the interest of our societal impact mission.
Conclusion
Telecom SudParis is firmly committed to promoting parity, equality, diversity and inclusion. This Strategy Plan is a key step in ensuring our graduate school remains a place where all individuals can fulfill themselves and contribute fully to the evolution of practices.
We believe that diversity is invaluable and inclusion a driving force for innovation and excellence. Our commitment is in step with the SDG momentum, confirming the active part we play in reaching these global objectives. As a training institution, we have the responsibility and the power to make an impact on the practices of tomorrow and contribute to a fairer and more equal society. The actions of our student associations will be levers in achieving these goals and disseminating these values. In addition, our partnership with the Equal Opportunity Centre of Institut Polytechnique de Paris and the Women Ambassadors program of Institut Mines-Télécom and Fondation Mines-Télécom will enable us to strengthen and enhance our commitment to diversity and inclusion.
