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Diversity Projects

Diversity at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is a matter of fact. We treat diversity as an enrichment and acknowledge the challenges that accompany diversity. To tackle diversity’s complexity, we facilitate and support VU-wide projects that contribute to the university’s inclusivity.

To make our learning and working environments even more inclusive, VU Amsterdam tackles points for improvement with targeted projects. Some projects are developed by the Diversity Office (DO). The DO signals bottlenecks, for instance as a result from research, and designs a project to tackle these challenges. Once the project runs successfully, the DO hands it over to a different department, faculty or team within the university.

Other projects are set up by faculties or service departments or by one of their teams. In these instances, staff members have noticed issues that require attention and have taken action to deal with these issues. To aid these initiatives, the DO offers its knowledge, expertise and support.

This work method allows the DO to encourage VU Amsterdam to turn diversity and inclusion into topics that are relevant for the entire university, as it takes an entire university to make a more inclusive learning and working environment for our students and staff.

Diversity Projects at VU Amsterdam

  • Colourful Staff Action Plan

    The Colourful Staff Action Plan focuses on more diversity among staff – specifically to have the diversity among our staff reflect the diversity among our students.

    Of our VU staff, only 10% is a child of migrants, while this percentage for VU students is as high as 21%. This difference indicates that VU Amsterdam loses out on valuable talents who also function as role models for students.

    The Colourful Staff Action Plan is a tool with which the university focuses on inclusive recruiting, working and recognizing. As a result, internal processes – such as the recruitment process – will be based on equality, teams will put the individual differences to good use and promotions won’t inhibit some groups and favour others.

    Read more about the Colourful Staff Action Plan here. 

  • Bonding & Bridging

    At VU Amsterdam, students have a strong tendency to form groups. Forming groups helps people feeling connected: it’s only natural to want to spend time with people with similar or the same perspectives and interests. Unfortunately, forming groups can also exclude people. For example, many international students struggle to befriend national students.

    To strengthen the connecting characteristic of group forming, VU Amsterdam organises Bonding & Bridging. Bonding & Bridging brings together many study associations and student associations of VU Amsterdam. This activity teaches students to be open to individual differences, to view the world from a broader perspective and to grow their network.

  • Decolonisation LAB

    The Decolonisation LAB inspires us to take a close look at the colonial history of the Netherlands. How do we, as VU Amsterdam, relate to that history? How does our past affect our present? We also focus on unjust structures and processes within the university that uphold these (neo)colonial consequences.

    To make VU Amsterdam into a truly inclusive university, VU Amsterdam must become and stay aware of its colonial past – and the consequences that impedes equity, mutuality and social justice affect the institutional processes and structures to this day.

  • Diversity Calendar

    Every calendar year, the Diversity Office publishes a new Diversity Calendar. The Diversity Calendar widens the awareness for religious holidays, some of which impact the regular work day, throughout VU Amsterdam. When students of staff require accommodations due to, for instance, an exam, event or outing being planned on an important holiday, the Diversity Office offers support and advice.

    The Diversity Calendar also contains various thematic days that focus on a specific theme or group. By including these days, the calendar helps faculties, service departments, associations and networks to determine which days are relevant for them to put in the spotlight.

    Read more about the Diversity Calendar.

  • Inclusive Curricula

    The project 'Inclusive Curricula' focuses on the way in which studies, minors and courses are designed. The focus is on the sources of information that we cite. How do we decide which sources are useful, relevant and reliable? To what extent do we let ourselves be guided by personal bias?

    The goal of Inclusive Curricula is to create time and space for knowledge and information that divert from the norm. By doing so, we broaden our students’ horizon and they learn to utilise various perspectives.

    For more information about inclusiva curricula, read the interview with Amrita Das in the VU Strategy Times.

  • Mixed Classroom

    Mixed Classroom is an educational model that actively makes use of the diversity amongst the students. This educational model teaches our students to navigate individual differences and prepares them for the complex and dynamic world in which we live.

    Moreover, Mixed Classroom teaches students to employ various perspectives with which they think critically, analyse thoroughly and come to creative solutions. As a result, this educational model contributes to inclusive curricula with attention to various knowledge perspectives – and to a university that recognizes and acknowledges individual differences.

    Read more about Mixed Classroom

  • Research on diversity and inclusion at VU Amsterdam

    VU Amsterdam often conducts research on diversity among our students and staff. We want to know how diverse and inclusive our university is, and how our students and staff experience their learning and working environment.

    Differences in for instance student success, moving up and recognition imply that some students and staff members face certain challenges. To identify these challenges through research, we’re setting that first step towards an open and welcoming VU Amsterdam where everybody feels at home. Additionally, this research will push VU Amsterdam to become a frontrunner of research on diversity and inclusion.

Questions or comments about diversity and inclusion at VU Amsterdam?

Let us know!

divers@vu.nl