Queensland University of Technology's vice-chancellor says the institution will move towards "inclusive suitability" rather than merit because "the workforce needs to reflect the students coming through".
At present, they go through all the candidates and decide who they think (based on both the objective measures and their own personal subjective biases—which are impossible to avoid in any hiring situation) is the very best candidate for the position. They pick that person.
Going forward, instead, they go through all the candidates based on the objective and subjective criteria, and set a certain (probably quite high) threshold. Above that, all candidates are deemed suitable. They choose who from that list to hire with an explicit eye to making the faculty match the student body or broader population in race and gender.
How I imagine it’s done:
At present, they go through all the candidates and decide who they think (based on both the objective measures and their own personal subjective biases—which are impossible to avoid in any hiring situation) is the very best candidate for the position. They pick that person.
Going forward, instead, they go through all the candidates based on the objective and subjective criteria, and set a certain (probably quite high) threshold. Above that, all candidates are deemed suitable. They choose who from that list to hire with an explicit eye to making the faculty match the student body or broader population in race and gender.