Sharda, since May 1st, you’ve been the Chief Diversity Officer at VU. How are you doing?
“I’m doing very well, and I’ve settled right into my work as CDO. VU feels like familiar ground to me. I’ve experienced it in various roles—starting as a PhD candidate in the nineties, then as a professor of Hindu Spirituality and Society for the past five years—and now, as CDO, I get to look at it through a new lens. That makes it all the more interesting for me.
“Diversity has always held a certain meaning for me, but as CDO, I’ve come to see just how broad it truly is. It encompasses religion, language, culture, gender, social backgrounds, learning styles, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, and more. What I find particularly fascinating is how people view themselves, their work, and the world around them through different perspectives.”
This year presented challenges on a global scale as well as within the university landscape. What has it taught you?
“It has undoubtedly been a year full of challenges. It reminded me how deeply interconnected we all are. Events happening in other parts of the world, even thousands of kilometres away, are personally felt by many of our students and colleagues here. Whether it’s major sports events, tragic wars, or political changes, we seek each other out to share joy and grief—because we need each other.
“And we shouldn’t underestimate that. A university is more than just a place where people come together to gain knowledge, in whatever form or for whatever purpose. We are not just students or staff members here; we are complete human beings. And for many, the university feels like home.
“This year also showed me that diversity and inclusion are often sensitive topics. But it’s inspiring to see how the VU educational community uses different approaches to make these themes powerful tools for learning, such as with the Mixed Classroom and A Broader Mind initiatives.”
What is a moment that has stayed with you?
“The violent incidents at universities, especially at the University of Amsterdam (UvA), deeply affected me. I completed two studies at the UvA, and it was my first employer in the Netherlands. When I arrived as a young student from Suriname, I found myself in the lecture halls within days. For me, a university has always felt like a sacred place because knowledge is something special. Not everyone gets the opportunity to study. Generations before us have made great efforts and sacrifices so that we could have this chance. So, when violence occurs in such a place, it hurts.
“Everyone had their own idea of what responsibility means and viewed it from their own perspective. Can we expect everyone to share the same perspective? That doesn’t seem fair. A university is precisely a place where we strive to create space for different perspectives because that stimulates critical thinking and knowledge development. It’s about better understanding the perspective from which someone is looking. I hope we continue this search for space for diversity in thought.”
