Technology appears n eutral, but rarely is. From AI to medical data, systems are often bui lt on a one-sided standard and reinforce existing inequalities. This leads to structural differences in opportunities, assessment and visi bility. Differences that go beyond male/female.
This issue is also urgent within the university, as researchers and students wo rk with data and digital systems on a daily basis. When unconscious b ias is carried over into these systems, it directly affects research, teaching and societal impact.
At this Vrouwen VU-hulp symposiu m, we will share academic insights on bias and inclusion. We will pre sent real-world examples of where things go wrong and where they work well, and open a dialogue on how VU Amsterdam and society can make t echnology more equitable.
Professor of Business Analytics
Sandjai Bhulai will give the keynote. With contributions from Anne d
e Hingh (Assistant Professor of Internet Law), Marilieke Engbers (gov
ernance expert) and Theo Bakker (lecturer in Learning Technology &
; Analytics). Moderator: Miranda van Holland.
Read the interview with Anne
de Hingh
Sandjai Bhulai is Professor of Business Analytics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He combines mathematical a nd technical expertise with questions of fairness and inclusion. His research focuses on the societal impact of data-driven systems, with particular attention to bias, fairness, and transparency. He plays an active role in the public debate on the responsible use of AI.
Anne de Hingh is Assistant Professor of Internet La w at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Her work focuses on themes such as responsibility, power, and legal protection in a digital society, ex amining how technological developments can reinforce or challenge exi sting inequalities. Anne combines legal analysis with broader societa l and ethical questions about technology.
Marilieke Eng bers is an Assistant Professor and researcher at Vrije Unive rsiteit Amsterdam. Her work addresses governance and ethical issues, with particular attention to integrity, power, and accountability wit hin organisations. Marilieke explores how formal rules and informal p ractices interact, and where tensions arise between law, ethics, and decision-making.
Theo Bakker is a lecturer in
Learning Technology & Analytics at THUAS and conducts research in
to academic success and equal opportunities in higher education. In h
is research, he combines data, educational practice and policy with t
he aim of making systems fairer and offering all students optimal opp
ortunities.
Intermezzo
Maartje de
Boer and Kine Handlykken form the musical cabaret duo Maartj
e & Kine. With their virtuosity and playful style, they
play more than twenty instruments together – from violin and piano
to singing saw and nose flute – and perform shows that are refined,
funny and surprisingly accessible.
Language: Dutch
T he Vrouwen VU-hulp symposium is inspired by the organisation Vrouwen VU-hulp, which raised tens of millions over the course of the twentie th century to support the founding and development of VU Amsterdam.
DESCRIPTION: Technology appears neutral, but rarely is. From AI to med ical data, systems are often built on a one-sided standard and reinfo rce existing inequalities. This leads to structural differences in op portunities, assessment and visibility. Differences that go beyond ma le/female. This issue is also urgent within the university, as resear chers and students work with data and digital systems on a daily basi s. When unconscious bias is carried over into these systems, it direc tly affects research, teaching and societal impact.At this Vrouwen VU -hulp symposium, we will share academic insights on bias and inclusio n. We will present real-world examples of where things go wrong and w here they work well, and open a dialogue on how VU Amsterdam and soci ety can make technology more equitable. Professor of Business An alytics Sandjai Bhulai will give the keynote. With contributions from Anne de Hingh (Assistant Professor of Internet Law), Marilieke Engbe rs (governance expert) and Theo Bakker (lecturer in Learning Technolo gy & Analytics). Moderator: Miranda van Holland.