Managing religious diversity in Quebec universities through EDI initiatives: toward a more participatory co-construction process

Purpose Our research aims to answer the following question: How does religious diversity manifest itself in Quebec universities through individuals' expressions of belief, interpersonal behaviors and organizational practices as part of a learning and co-construction process? The objective of this study was, in the context of the EDI initiatives, to explore and document, through website analysis and expert consultation, the manifestations of religious diversity in Quebec universities in terms of individual experiences and claims, discussion and benchmarking, and the formalization of rules imposed by management, including senior management, and at the level of policies and organizational structures. Design/methodology/approach The methodology applied to conduct this exploratory research was document analysis: a systematic approach that enables one to extract qualitative data from print or electronic documents (Bourgeois, 2021; Bowen, 2009; O’Connor, 2019; Paulus et al., 2014). This method allows for a rigorous data collection process to extract meaning and trends from a set of documents and thereby answer the research question. In a second phase of data collection, and to address the main limitation of relying solely on document analysis, the preliminary findings were shared for expert feedback. This step aligns with realist synthesis, which is appropriate for testing and refining findings through expert validation (Robert and Ridde, 2013). Findings By analyzing data and combining theoretical frameworks on religious expression, inclusion systems, management of religion and co-construction process, this article contributes to both theory and practice. The document analysis of Quebec's 18 universities led to three key findings: concrete manifestations of religious expression, limited consideration of religious diversity within existing EDI frameworks, and the importance of managing religious diversity collaboratively through a participatory co-construction process. The results revealed a multitude of religious manifestations or practices within all domains of the frame of reference. The use of this framework enabled us to better understand how management of religion is manifested at universities, a little-documented environment, especially in Quebec. Research limitations/implications This study explored the management of religious issues in Quebec universities through EDI plans and policies. It has however limitations due to its exploratory nature and methodology. Some practices, particularly those involving administrative staff, are likely shared only internally and therefore not accessible on the website. Further studies, including more university surveys and interviews with employees and individuals from diverse religious backgrounds, are needed to better understand the dynamics and challenges of managing religious issues. Future research could also consider comparing universities based on their language (francophone and anglophone institutions), size or location, for example, by contrasting large urban institutions with smaller regional universities. Practical implications This participatory, co-constructive process linked to EDI initiatives is not unique to the consideration of religious diversity, and there is no question of prioritizing religion over other forms of diversity, but since results show that religious diversity seems more invisible than other forms, this type of process allows for the creation of spaces for discussion, consultation and inclusion of stakeholders concerned by religious diversity in change initiatives throughout the organization, in accordance with current legislation. Managing religious diversity within organizations' EDI approaches cannot be imposed and requires the involvement of stakeholders, who play a crucial role in inclusion efforts. During the consultations, the experts emphasized the relevance of the proposed framework, highlighting the value of such a process for addressing religious diversity, especially given the current lack of structured approaches in most institutions. They noted that the framework could serve as an inspiration for how universities can manage religious diversity and could be adopted or adapted by both experts and institutions. For other scientific research, the framework (Figure 5) could also be the subject of further studies. Social implications The findings are also useful for practitioners, as they provide insights into how religious diversity is currently managed and how it concretely manifests in university settings. This contributes to practitioners' understanding and can inform the development of future training initiatives and EDI action plans. The framework and results offer practical tools for those seeking to recognize, engage with and better structure responses to religious diversity within academic institutions. These avenues offer a concrete foundation for universities to advance toward a more coherent, inclusive and sustainable approach to managing religious diversity. Originality/value Few studies have examined how religious diversity and religious identities are addressed in the context of EDI initiatives and process within Quebec universities. It is so interesting to document religious expression in Quebec universities to determine whether its management is still essentially invisible and submerged in the multiple different diversities, as is the case in some other organizations (Galindo and Surply, 2010, p. 31). This study underscores the importance of integrating religious diversity more actively into EDI policies and practices through collaborative processes.