Professor of Hindu Spirituality and Society, Sharda Nandram, has been the chief diversity officer at VU Amsterdam since May 1, 2024. Together with colleagues from the Diversity Office, she contributes to diversity and inclusion at VU Amsterdam. This is especially important in the current climate, where there is a great need for understanding one another and for each other’s positions and viewpoints.
Why a chief diversity officer at VU Amsterdam?
“For over 20 years, people at VU Amsterdam have been engaged with topics such as diversity, racism, gender issues, and the collaboration between different nationalities and cultures. At some point, this became formalized into an office, and now I have the privilege of leading it as chief diversity officer. The Diversity Office aims to raise awareness at VU Amsterdam on topics such as sexual orientation, gender identity, and cultural, philosophical, and socio-economic differences. To achieve this, we develop policies and support staff and students with knowledge, expertise, and experience.
Diversity is quite a topic. It’s always a bit, how should I say, ‘high voltage.’ The polarization in society, the large conflicts, and different groups demanding attention. It is challenging to handle these matters properly, as a lot is happening and things tend to unfold rapidly.”
To what extent are diversity and social safety related?
“Diversity is certainly linked to the issue of social safety. At its core, it’s about continuing to meet each other, getting to know one another better, and not being afraid of each other, even when things are unfamiliar or daunting. A great initiative is the mixed classroom, where people engage in conversations about sensitive topics. It’s incredibly important that we offer our students, and also our staff, a range of perspectives from a diversity standpoint.
For me, social safety is most at risk when people feel unseen and unacknowledged when they offer a different perspective. That’s when the feeling of ‘Am I safe here? Am I wanted here? Do I belong?’ can arise.
I think many of the international staff at VU struggle with this. That they always have to do more and work harder to be included. The fierce competition within universities makes this even more difficult.”
What are key factors that can promote diversity and inclusion?
“If you ask me what we should focus on, the only answer is spirituality. Because spirituality connects. And it's all about that connection; the feeling of belonging and being valued. Spirituality also addresses issues like justice and working from responsibility, engagement, and humanity. These are, in my view, essential values for VU Amsterdam, as we are educating young people.
Living alongside each other, listening to one another, and being heard, that’s what it’s about. I consider myself fortunate to have grown up in Suriname, where I have always seen different cultures and perspectives as an enrichment. And I still do. Curiosity towards others, rather than fear. Let’s work on that together.”
