Dear colleagues and students at VU Amsterdam,
We are all deeply concerned about the ongoing violence and the many innocent victims in Israel and the Palestinian regions. During this difficult time, we believe it is important to provide a supportive environment and space where everyone who is worried can speak freely. Through this message, we would like to update you on the latest developments at VU Amsterdam.
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Role of the University
As a socially engaged university, the pursuit of debate, dialogue and freedom of expression is invaluable. We therefore find it important to continue facilitating academic dialogue about the situation within the VU community. Sometimes, such discussions can present dilemmas where different interests, viewpoints and emotions appear to conflict. However, despite the challenges this may bring, maintaining these academic conversations is crucial for continuous learning and staying connected. We remain steadfast in our commitment to this.
Assessment Framework
In addition to facilitating academic dialogue, it has been previously announced that a framework is being designed to review international collaborations against our university's values and international human rights standards. Based on prior knowledge and experience, making an objective assessment that can be uniformly interpreted is complex. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully follow this process. We are confident that the project team, which previously developed assessment frameworks for scientific integrity, for cooperation with the fossil fuel industry and knowledge security, will successfully complete this task. Currently, a preliminary draft is being developed, which will be reviewed by a cross-section of the VU Amsterdam-community in the second half of June.
Finally, many of you have probably noticed that a number of tents have been set up on campus square. Protest is an important form of expression in our society, and the right to protest is enshrined in our constitution. To ensure that education, research, and activities can continue, various precautions are taken during protests. Additionally, it is essential for us to ensure the safety of everyone on campus. Current information about the latest developments at VU Amsterdam can be found on this page.
We hope that we can continue to work together towards a constructive and inclusive dialogue, where all voices are heard and respected, and we put maximum effort into this.
Executive Board, Deans and Directors of Divisions