ENAC organisational culture stands for acting together to look after the studying and working culture of ENAC.
Organisational Culture in ENAC
As a dynamic and diverse faculty, ENAC members are invited to review its organisational culture and foster a harmonious, open, inclusive, respectful and secure study and work climate.
The aim is twofold; first, we aim to develop and maintain study and work everyday dealings that support students, teachers, doctoral assistants, professors, scientists and administrative staff’s well-being. Secondly, we would like to showcase the participative effort across the school.
The initiative is a response to the 2023 Social Climate Survey which collected confidential testimonials from various members of the architecture community about their everyday dealings and professional concerns. The survey report, presented by an external body, suggested areas for improvement.
These recommendations align with other institutional initiatives, findings also highlight traits specific to the Architecture study and work culture and today, deserve attention. For example, suggestions from the Climate Survey and the Mental Health survey, 2022 identify high workload impacting well-being. Similarly, suggestions to increase visibility of grievances and compliance procedures resonate with the Respect campaign led by the Trust and Support Network.
Distinctive to architecture studies, we intend to contribute to the review of the study program and change the design studio culture.
ENAC Organisational Culture in action
Establish a charter
Produce a draft, explore possible applications, and work with the AR community to create a charter that defines shared values for studying and working together. The charter will inspire respectful collaboration and set expectations for behavior in different scenarios, for example, in studio teaching. It will also outline how concerns and conflicts are addressed. A dedicated working group is developing it with input from an Unlearning session and feedback from the AR community.
Click here to read the update of the working group for the charter.
Contribute and join forces with EPFL initiatives
- Invite the ENAC community to participate in inclusion, diversity and equity initiatives such as the Diversity Office at ENAC and the Equal Opportunities Office – EPFL.
- Promote well-being support services and opportunities available for students and staff at EPFL through the Trust and Support Network TSN and Mental health.
- Strengthen connections between existing teaching and learning initiatives, with a particular focus on those most relevant to Architecture studies.
Design, Organise and Facilitate Trainings
We are designing and offering targeted learning opportunities to support and maintain a healthy work and study environment. These opportunities focus on developing pedagogical and managerial skills, in line with the recommendations from the social climate survey.
- 20-minute sessions on themes proposed by the ENAC Faculty Council, designed to integrate easily into lectures. So far, one session has been included in a lecture or exercise session for each cycle of the Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Environmental Engineering Bachelor’s and Master’s programs, covering the themes listed below.
- Appreciate the importance for identifying and responding to powersplaining & mansplaining.
- Define what it means to receive, witness, or express microaggressions and hurtful comments.
- 2 hours Newcomers session to ENAC employees aims to promote an inclusive and healthy work climate.
Here is a a peer-review paper explaining the experience and lessons learnt from some of these trainings.
To know more and to schedule a session in other sections, faculties or units, contact [email protected].
The updated list of training opportunities open to ENAC members is available here.
Welcome, invite and listen the ENAC community
- Listen, advice and redirect members of the ENAC community facing personal or relational challenges that affect their studies or work.
- For Architecture, foster collective engagement and respond to the recommendations from the social climate survey.
Collaborations
The Dean Representative for organizational culture, Ingrid Le Duc invites the ENAC community to join the initiatives leading towards the aspired change. Contact her (link to: [email protected]) for information or to have an informal conversation.
ENAC organisational culture works closely with the Well-being and Inclusion (WINC) department and may reach out the Leadership and Development department to help strengthen ENAC members’ competencies. In some cases people may be redirected to the Respect and Compliance Office (RCO).
You will find more information and a description of opportunities to participante in the initiatives below. Your contribution is highly appreciated and you can receive a letter of participation to the organizational change process. To get it, you will ask for it in writing to the Dean Representative for Organisational Culture.
Scroll the page, and click here to find an updated list of opportunities: https://bookwhen.com/fr/cultureenac