Diversity of Perspectives: The Heart of Inclusive Education
Why do you research inclusion in medical education?
When I told people in the Netherlands that I had taught in India, my experience was often marginalized. I received responses like, "Oh, but that was in India, right...?" It was literally stated that this was not valuable in the Dutch context. However, in this multicultural country, people come from diverse backgrounds, such as Turkish, Moroccan, and Surinamese backgrounds. The experiences of these students differ significantly from those of Dutch students. I noticed that students from non-Dutch backgrounds sometimes face stereotyping.
I thought to myself, 'Why do people think this way?' This is why I delved into the topic of inclusion.
What results have come from this?
When students felt excluded, it had a negative impact on their motivation. This also applies to first-generation students. These students generally know how to resiliently move forward, but the pressure to constantly perform, keep going, achieve more, and keep proving oneself is equally unhealthy.
What is your perspective on current medical curricula in relation to inclusion and diversity?
There is too little attention given to the medical history of colonization in medical curricula. Diversity among doctors and in the patient population is important: show that your education is represented not only by white people but also by people from different cultures and backgrounds. They serve as valuable role models, especially in an environment with such a diverse student population. Students wonder, 'I am here, but do I really belong here? I don't see anyone like me.' And then, suddenly, they see someone like them, and they think, 'Oh wow, I can do this too.'
Actively Effecting Change
How can teachers actively contribute to creating a conscious and inclusive educational space?
Awareness of diverse perspectives is one of the essential things that I believe we should establish very well in all curricula. In a lecture hall or learning environment, we can actively strive to highlight diverse perspectives, for example, by making an extra effort to bring out diverse perspectives in a brainstorming session.
One of the possibilities is the use of the VU Mixed Classroom Model. The VU Mixed Classroom Model offers an excellent opportunity to encourage people to share different perspectives and openly express their ideas. This is an approach that the entire educational community can embrace.
Reflection exercises, such as asking questions like 'What privileges do I have and which ones don't I have?' and being aware of your position in the group compared to others, are also valuable. Once you have that awareness, you can better understand how others experience the situation and better support each other.
But: People find it very uncomfortable. However, to effect change in inclusion within education, we must be willing to embrace the uncomfortable. It is precisely this discomfort that propels us into action, toward a more inclusive future.
