Academia today encompasses a wide diversity of students and staff, yet there is a need for greater knowledge and practical tools to manage this diversity in a unified and strategic manner. The KIMU project aims to address this by fostering genuine diversity competence within the sector, thereby strengthening our work environments.
KiMU targets leaders with personnel and professional responsibilities, union representatives, safety representatives, and HR staff within the university and university college sector. It is a training program focused on diversity management and inclusive practices in the sector, placing particular emphasis on influential roles—including leaders and union representatives. The course is being developed in a modular format designed to be adaptable to local needs and strategies. All modules will be available in both Norwegian and English by the autumn of 2026.
The project was in 2025 funded by DFØ competence funds and in-kind contributions from several universities and university colleges in Norway, and was anchored at the University of Agder.
Flexible and practice-oriented course
To succeed in our sector, the modules must be professionally robust and practically applicable—supporting the responsibilities many already shoulder. Leaders are calling for honest, relevant offerings that work in a hectic daily environment; the same applies to union representatives, safety representatives, and HR advisors. We therefore deliver and continuously develop a flexible, practice-oriented course that allows for reflection and in-depth professional learning. KiMU is not intended to replace existing activities, but rather to serve as a resource bank and a supplement that provides a significant professional boost in the field of diversity management.
An integral part of the leadership role
With KiMU, the sector aims to make diversity management an integral part of the leadership role in academia – and to pave the way for more inclusive and sustainable knowledge institutions.
The project will offer training and education ...by the sector’s own experts in leadership development, and a key aspect involves reflecting on how the modules can be integrated into existing leadership development programs at each institution. KiMU is not intended to replace leadership development, but rather to enhance and elevate existing activities. The project will adapt the modules for other roles involving expanded responsibilities, such as union representatives and safety representatives.
As a key part of the project, a dedicated toolkit is being developed for working with diversity within one's own unit. More information to follow.
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