Montpellier Business School renews its commitment to the professional integration of people with disabilities
In 2018, the unemployment rate of people with disabilities is 19%, while it is 9% for the total labour force. This observation underlines the importance of making companies aware of responsible recruitment for a better professional integration. Based on the values of diversity and inclusion, Montpellier Business School is committed to training future responsible recruiters, and to making the necessary adjustments to the professional development of all its employees.
Guaranteeing professional integration through access to higher education
Nadège Ortiz-Boris says: “Today, only 1% of young people with disabilities have a “Bac +5” degree. To move the lines, we must act against the self-censorship of these young middle and high school students.“
Montpellier Business School has set up actions upstream of its courses whose objective is to develop self-esteem among these young people. “Since 2012, in partnership with the FEDEEH, the school has rolled out the PHARES program (which stands for “Beyond Disability Advancing and Succeeding in Higher Education”); 40 young people were accompanied by 45 tutors to participate in activities whose goal is to lift this self-censorship.“
Adapt education conditions and facilitate professionalization
Montpellier Business School puts everything in place so that disability does not hinder the smooth running of studies. “The campus is fully adapted to any form of motor disability. In addition, disability referrals are trained in each school’s educational department to offer schooling and examinations.” Nadège adds.
Finally, in addition to the traditional professionalization tools (Career Centre, Entrepreneurship Centre), students have the opportunity to participate in specialized recruitment forums (internship offers, work-study contracts, open-ended contracts and fixed-term contracts), co-organized with the FEDEEH.
Personalized follow-up for Montpellier Business School employees
Montpellier Business School pays particular attention to the entire integration process. From the selection of applications and as required by the diversity label held by Montpellier Business School for 10 years now, recruitment is based solely on business skills, linguistic and behavioural and can lead to a process of adapting the position to the profile of the candidate.
This support resulted in the signing of the first disability agreements in July 2018 and was formalized by the appointment of a dedicated equality coordinator: Nadège Ortiz-Boris. “We carry out regular individual interviews with the employees and managers, to support employees in adapting to the job, their career and their well-being within Montpellier Business School.”
To be recognized to fight against the bias
Nadège recognizes that “very often, there is a certain shyness or embarrassment to be recognized as a worker with disabilities. These workers may be afraid of being stigmatized or sometimes minimizing their situation by thinking that their colleagues may be in worse situations. Nevertheless, there is a real interest in being recognized as a worker with a disability. First of all to guarantee a good development of the position and the working time but especially to improve the visibility on the handicap and to validate by the example that it is not a brake on good performance. “
Montpellier Business School therefore plans in the coming months to multiply projects to give a better visibility to disability, actions that will also materialize throughout the construction of the future campus. In parallel, the school supports all solidarity initiatives, starting with the 20km race in Montpellier that will take place this Sunday and whose funds will be donated to Handisport. Good luck to all collaborators and students!
