Here is our list of the best diversity training programs.
Diversity training programs are educational resources that raise awareness about social and cultural backgrounds among coworkers. The goal is to create a great company culture and a positive work environment for all employees. Examples include Cornell University’s Diversity & Inclusion Certificate Program, Overcoming Unconscious Bias by Media Partners, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate Program by American Management Association (AMA). Diversity training programs equip employees with the knowledge and skills to improve interpersonal relationships while promoting tolerance and acceptance.
These courses are similar to leadership training programs and HR training programs. This training can help professionals improve workplace diversity, host diversity activities, and virtual diversity initiatives. These lessons also convey the benefits of workplace diversity.
This list includes:
- free diversity training programs
- online diversity training programs
- diversity and inclusion training programs
- cultural diversity training programs
- diversity training programs for managers
- diversity training programs for employees
Let us get to it!
List of diversity training programs
An inclusive workplace environment enables coworkers to coordinate better while respecting each other. Here are some great programs for diversity training.
1. Compliance Training Group
The Compliance Trading Group has existed since 2002 and has offered excellent diversity training programs for employees. This program aims to make the workplace conducive and optimized for all workers. The program covers diversity and inclusion, substance abuse, workplace ethics, sexual harassment, and workplace ethics.
This program also offers sensitivity training with the diversity and inclusion package. The program is relatively affordable at $30 per participant. Also, you can learn at your own pace because you control your training time. The training time typically lasts for around 60-90 minutes.
Learn more about Compliance Training Group.
2. American Management Association: Leading in a Diverse and Inclusive Culture
For eight weeks and a price of $2,345, the American Management Association (AMA) provides trainees with a program that improves diversity and reduces bias. The program typically focuses on diplomacy, finance, communication, and project management. HR and management teams will benefit the most from this course.
This diversity training program for employees covers the following subjects:
- introduction to diversity and inclusion
- bridging communication differences
- understanding bias
- micro-advantages
- productive dialogue
The course takes six weeks when run in-person and eight weeks when online.
Learn more about American Management Association: Leading in a Diverse and Inclusive Culture.
3. HR University – Diversity and Inclusion Certification
HR University created this diversity program specifically to cater to professionals in HR and management. Trainees will learn to navigate the complex world of gender, race, culture, disability, harassment, and bias.
Essentially, the HR University – Diversity and Inclusion Certification focuses on teaching candidates how to create plans for inclusion and diversity initiatives, such as making a DEI mission statement and managing diversity-centric conversations.
This program covers:
- creating a sense of belonging in your company
- organizing a company’s vision
- pinpointing unconscious bias
- dealing with workplace bullying and harassment
- instituting inclusion, diversity, and strategy.
The cost of this course is priced at $299 and lasts for one month. While running the program, you will come across 15 case studies, seven quizzes, and an assessment to test your knowledge.
Learn more about HR University – Diversity and Inclusion Certification.
4. Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Program
This course is an example of the free diversity training programs Coursera offers. ESSEC Business School designed this sought-after program that takes about 13 hours for you to complete. However, you should know that you get a certificate only after paying a fee. Therefore if you are looking for an inexpensive way to upskill your career and advance, this course may be for you.
This course will cover leveraging diversity for better productivity rates, branding, and a fair and just work environment. Understanding how to communicate effectively and navigate conversations around diversity is also a part of the lecture plan.
Learn more about Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Program.
5. Inclusive Leadership Program by edX
One of the most popular online educational platforms today is edX. This educational platform runs several online diversity training programs, an example being the Inclusive Leadership Program. A non-profit called Catalyst, which develops safe work environments for women, created the Inclusive Leadership Program. The program teaches the trainees to understand the nuances of gender disparities in business and improve employee engagement.
If you want a course from a reputable source with a learning timeline you can control, this course may be for you. The workload only takes one to two hours per week, and the class costs $135.
Learn more about the edX Inclusive Leadership Program.
6. Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program by eCornell
Cornell University is already a major name in the educational world. The Ivy-league institution provides cultural diversity training programs such as the Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program. You and your employees can take this program entirely online. The HR professionals, supervisors, and executives in your business will benefit much from the program.
The idea behind the course is to make your company more interactive by giving the participants an understanding of different psychological, institutional, and perceptual processes. The trainees will learn how thought patterns affect colleagues.
The program focuses on four main areas: fostering inclusiveness, improving employee engagement, understanding workplace diversity and inclusion, and countering unconscious bias. After you finish the program, you get a diversity and inclusion certificate worth around 32 Professional Development Hours.
Learn more about eCornell’s Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program.
7. AMA’s Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program
AMA helps members and non-members develop soft skills with this diversity training program. The program costs $2,995 for members, $3,295 for non-members, and $2,837 for members of the General Services Administration. The course covers almost all aspects of diversity, justifying the cost.
This program allows you to opt for in-person or online training for the same price. The course is one of the top diversity training programs for managers, HR professionals, and executives in your business.
Apart from an understanding of the nuances of diversity, such as microaggressions and unconscious bias, this course provides extra resources. The resources include skill refreshers, on-demand lessons, and written articles.
After you complete the course, you receive 18 Professional Development Units and a certificate. You should note that the program lasts for about three weeks.
Learn more about AMA’s Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program.
8. HRDQ: Diversity Works
The Diversity Works program by HRDQ uses an unconventional teaching method through interactive games. This method gives employees a hands-on, fun, and engaging approach to learning with experimentation and freedom.
The program focuses on three main objectives: understanding your uniqueness, recognizing the uniqueness of others, and learning how communication around diversity affects the workplace. Training costs are around $999, less than $45 per employee in a group of 25. Additionally, apart from the interactive games, the program has a three-hour-long workshop that delves deeper into diversity and inclusion. All these features make the course a good diversity training program for employees.
Learn more about HRDQ: Diversity Works
9. Foundations of Diversity and Inclusion at Work
Foundations of Diversity and Inclusion at Work is one of the best diversity and inclusion training programs. This free diversity training course teaches the basics of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Around six instructors cover all the significant areas you and your employees need to know. The Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia created this foundational course. The idea was to give a new insight into the different diversity and inclusion challenges due to the pandemic in 2020.
The program offers a unique perspective on diversity. You should pick up on skills like how to use language to navigate difficult conversations around inequity and race, create a safe workplace space, and champion change in your environment. Coursera runs this program which lasts for six hours.
Learn more about Foundations of Diversity and Inclusion at Work.
10. Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion Training
This diversity training program that iHASCO offers focuses on ethical and social responsibility. The courses start by helping the trainees explore what an ideal workplace should be. The course also helps workers understand the roles every employee should play to create an inclusive workplace. Additionally, the course will outline the barriers and challenges to achieving these roles.
Employees in the United Kingdom particularly benefit from this course due to the fact the course dives into the Equality Act of 2010. The program explores the rules and provisions of the Act to help you and your employees interact with each other under the law’s protections. This program is free and lasts for only 60 minutes. Therefore, the program is an easy introduction to diversity best practices.
Learn more about Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion Training.
11. Communicating With Diverse Audiences
The University of Surrey has developed a course for FutureLearn that helps diverse teams learn to communicate with each other. With the primary focus on culture, communication, and interpersonal relationships, this program allows teams with different types of English speakers to communicate clearly. This issue may not seem significant, but slight language differences can create communication barriers.
During this program, you and your team will learn to be mindful during communication. Understanding the nuances of language will help your team build better relationships at work. The course lasts for four weeks and is free.
Learn more about Communication With Diverse Audiences.
12. Diversity 101– The Complete Series by Media Partners
Media Partners created a diversity training program that addresses issues like inclusion, harassment, and team building. However, you can tailor the training to the needs of your company. The program has 36 minutes of video training materials that delve deep into workplace behavior, inappropriate jokes, and multicultural working environments.
Once you buy the training program for your company, you can reuse the course repeatedly for new employees or retrain old employees. Therefore, the program is a good investment, costing $895.
Learn more about Diversity 101 – The Complete Series.
13. Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace by SkillPath
This training program covers the fundamentals of diversity and inclusion that employees need to understand. The program gives an insight into how you see yourself, how you see others, and how to work together. Generally, the program’s duration depends on the company’s requirements.
A peculiar aspect of the Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace training program by SkillPath is the customization feature. You can tailor-make a diversity program for your organization depending on the company’s needs. You can also choose the format you will receive the training in, online or offline. Also, just as the program is tailorable, so is the pricing.
Learn more about Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace by SkillPath.
14. ProProfs
If you run a huge organization, then you will appreciate this diversity training program. For large organizations, your employees would most likely be from diverse backgrounds. Therefore, creating a customizable program that suits all workers in the company is vital. This online training program allows you to make personalized courses and management tools.
The courses you create will cover different aspects of diversity in the workplace, such as age, sexuality, gender, culture, race, religion, and disability. This course also comes with other packages. The advanced package comes with 100 licenses, while the beginners’ package comes with ten licenses.
Learn more about ProProfs.
15. Gender and Sexuality: Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
The world has continued evolving with gender and sexual identities. The training program that the University of Pittsburgh created for Coursera offers aims to explore how the changes affect the workplace and impact the lives of LGBTQIA+ colleagues. The course also provides political, social, and historical context for sexuality and gender.
This training keeps you updated on all the laws surrounding LGBTQIA+ rights. The program lasts for around 16 hours and is free. At the end of the training, you should understand how to relate better with colleagues of varying sexual and gender identities and how to deal with your misconceptions and unconscious biases. You can subject every employee in your business to this training.
Learn more about Gender and Sexuality: Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace.
16. How Was Your Day?
This training program is an eLearning course that explores what an ideal respectful work environment looks like through an interactive video. This sixty minutes program helps participants understand how to identify and deal with harassment, bullying, and bias in the workplace.
Different training video segments explain how biases negatively affect your colleagues and employees. The video also delves into ways these biases breed prejudice in the company and stop diversity from thriving.
You will learn practical ways to prevent these biases by standing up for yourself and your colleagues. The program costs $1,150 for the eLearning course and $950 if you choose the DVD.
Learn more about How Was Your Day?
17. Unconscious Bias by Microsoft
Microsoft has created a free electronic course about unconscious bias, inclusion, and diversity. In this course, you will understand how to find your biases, how the biases affect others, and how to get rid of biases. After you complete this program, you should better understand your unknown microaggressions, discriminations, and prejudices.
This training aims to get trainees to analyze their behaviors and make changes. Since this course is self-paced, you can start and end anytime. Also, when you finish the course, you can download the ‘Make it Real’ worksheet that gives you plans to counter workplace bias.
This online diversity training program is available in several languages, such as English, French, Deutsch, and Spanish. This feature will help you if your team has a culturally diverse workforce.
Learn more about Unconscious Bias by Microsoft.
18. Get Smarter: Diversity and Inclusive Leadership
A team of diverse workers will not function properly without diversity-aware management. This course will guide your top-level employees, from supervisors to managers, on managing a diverse and inclusive team. The trainees will cover various modules in the course that focus on handling diversity in a growing team.
EGADE Business School and GetSmarter created the course to educate management about navigating the complex company culture. You will also learn how to become more appealing as a leader to your team by creating an inclusive personality. At $1,000 and over eight weeks, this program is essential in building a workforce necessary for the future.
Learn more about Get Smarter: Diversity and Inclusive Leadership.
Conclusion
Enrolling in a diversity training program should not be a performative gesture. The world is multifaceted, and learning to appreciate our differences is crucial to fostering a good business environment. Diversity training can be an opportunity to increase cultural awareness, impart knowledge, and respect differences. These programs should aim to break down cultural, social, racial, and political barriers so your team can be more productive.
For more resources, check out these DEI books and quotes about diversity and inclusion.
Grace He