Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Do you have an impactful idea for how to strengthen diversity, equity and inclusion amongst the employees or students in our organisation? Submit your proposal for 2025 now! More information can be found on the UT Incentive Fund page on our ServicePortal!

On 1 October, it’s Diversity Day in the Netherlands once again. And on this day, we challenge everyone to explore the issue of polarisation and what you can do to counter it, whether you work or study at UT. In a time when the tone of discussions seems to be growing harsher and extreme views are increasingly taking the spotlight – both within and outside our university – the open exchange of ideas and experiences is becoming more difficult. Sign up for our workshop today! 

UT is to develop a new matching algorithm and online job platforms to reduce the distance to the labour market for people with disabilities. Science financier NWO recently awarded over 1.7 million euros within the KIC Programme Participate in the Labour Market.

On 2 October, it happened: experiential expert Jiska Ogier spoke to a packed audience about accessibility and inclusion. Many colleagues, especially those from CFM, HR, and the organisers of this event, the members of the Inclusion task force within CFM, witnessed how Jiska hit the nail on the head. With humor, a substantial amount of knowledge, and numerous compelling examples, Jiska engaged everyone in the world of individuals with physical, visual, and/or auditory disabilities. It was a learning experience, relatable, and sometimes it stirred emotions. In this article, you can read about how the conversation went.

On 3 October, it was Diversity Day in the Netherlands, and at UT, it was no exception. Focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion is always crucial, not just on Diversity Day but every day. It's not because it's trendy or because organisations “have to do it”, but because everyone should feel at home at UT. Being treated equally and genuinely feeling that your contributions are noticed and valued is a fundamental need for everyone. That's why, on 3 October, UT’s DE&I Team engaged in extensive discussions with UT community members, exploring what changes or enhancements they'd like to see in terms of diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

How does the Dutch history of slavery and its consequences affect the here and now? That question was the focus of the Keti Koti Table, held on Thursday, 28 September in Enschede's city hall. The table is a joint initiative of Gemeente Enschede and Hogeschool Saxion and the University of Twente.

Dr. Linn Lippert, Associate Professor of Computaional Chemical Physics (Faculty of Science & Technology), published an article on the results of a panel discussion she carried out about the need for an inclusive and a representative academic environment. Read the Faculty's news item on the interesting outcomes of this panel discussion. 

The National Slavery Commemoration during Keti Koti (roughly translated: 'the chains are broken') on 1 July this year, was the starting point of the National Slavery Memorial Year in the Netherlands. The Memorial Year focuses special attention on the past of Dutch slavery and its consequences. How do they affect our lives in the here and now? In the Twente region, we also feel it as important to reflect on these consequences. We will be doing so with various activities throughout the year and will start on 28 September. Then, the Municipality of Enschede, Saxion University of Applied Sciences and the University of Twente will jointly organise a Keti Koti Table in Enschede's city hall.

When principles of DE&I are normalised as being one of UT’s core values, they become part of our everyday conversations, interactions, and ways of working, rather than an exception, a mere label or an afterthought. Normalising DE&I is crucial for a more equitable, socially safe and just learning, working, and living environment for all at our university and on our campus. Are you interested to learn how UT is working steadily to integrate DE&I into our day-to-day practice? Then keep reading!

On 3 October 2022, is the day! The second edition of the Diversity Week is about to begin. This year again, we will again bring you an inspiring, informative and engaging programme, packed with workshops, presentations and gatherings. Getting interested? Keep reading!

The Incentive Fund is open again! Are you a UT student or employee? Submit your proposal for greater diversity, equity and inclusion at UT by 17 June 2022 at the latest. Quickly read on to learn more about all the possibilities and what the requirements are.

International Women's Day is celebrated every year on 8 March. This year again, we will be celebrating this day with attention. For UT, International Women's Day is an opportunity to put our female students and staff in the spotlights, to encourage them to keep going and, importantly, to recognise and reflect on the challenges and difficulties women - and all those who identify their gender as female - encounter when studying and working in academia.

We are glad to announce that today, UT’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Team published our Gender Equality Plan (GEP). As of January 2022, all academics working at a European university and applying for grants under the European Commission's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme must be able to prove their institution has set up a GEP. This first version of the GEP is a valuable opportunity for us to consider all we have done, are currently working on and can and should additionally work on to advance gender equality (i.e. proper representation of women) in research and innovation projects.

You hardly could have missed it: last week was Diversity Week at UT. It was an action packed week. The primary purpose of this week and the programme offered was to raise awareness. What do you think about diversity? When do you feel at home and safe at UT, and when do you feel that you are being seen, heard, valued and respected? Can you fully express yourself and can you freely say what is important to you? Or do you - intentionally or unconsciously - still face prejudices or beliefs coming from yourself or other people, hindering you to be your authentic self and do what you want to do and are capable of? 

On Thursday 7 October, Machteld Roos signed the declaration of intent for the UN Treaty on behalf of the Executive Board of the University of Twente. With this signature, the university promises to create an inclusive learning environment in which every student can take part in education and feel welcome.

From 4 till 8 October UT will fully dedicate itself to the topics of diversity, equity and inclusion. On Tuesday 5 October the Netherlands will be celebrating National Diversity Day. On this day companies and institutions are encouraged to organise activities to create awareness about diversity and inclusion. UT will also be actively participating by organising activities for and with employees and students on this day – and throughout the week. You are cordially invited to join!

Do you have an innovative idea for how to strengthen and secure diversity and inclusion amongst the community, including its employees in our organisation? Then the UT Incentive fund is now open for your proposal until 11 June.

A diversity artwork, as a counterpart to the existing portraits of former rectors. The work of art should be on show in the Waaier by the end of this year. 'Everyone needs a role model', says initiator Anouk Geenen. (Source: U-Today)

Sterre Mkatini wanders the campus as a roving reporter. Well, digitally for now, but the diversity officer is fine with that. More inclusion at the UT? Leave that to this third culture kid. Today Sterre is interviewing Marion Kamp, the experienced Management portfolio holder. She, too, likes giving other people a platform. And the women share another interesting characteristic: ‘When your appearance doesn’t match your inner self, people approach you differently from how you feel.’

‘The main goal is to expand our knowledge on issues related to diversity and inclusion,’ say founders of UT initiative ‘Dialogical spaces for a diverse university’. They are organizing eight online sessions, with the first one held today, as well as producing a podcast series focused on diversity and inclusion at the UT. (Source: U-Today)

‘More diversity?’ In academic circles this phrase often still means ‘more women’, says Saskia Bonjour, political scientist and member of The Young Academy. Too little is being done for other target groups. (Source: U-today)

Lisa Waldera (25) is a master’s student Communication Studies from Bremen, Germany. For three years now, she’s been living on campus. Next to her study, she regularly visits the cinema and enjoys concerts of all music genres. Every other week she writes about her life at the University of Twente. (Source: U-Today)

Een diversiteitsweek, een diversiteitsworkshop voor eerstejaars Civil Engineering en een anti-racismetraining. Het is een greep uit de zeven gehonoreerde projecten vanuit het Incentive Fund, bedoeld om initiatieven op het gebied van diversiteit en inclusie te ontplooien binnen de UT. (Source: U-Today)

There will be no ‘diversity barometer’ in higher education and research and no ‘diversity police’ patrolling campuses, if the Dutch of House of Representatives has its way. (Source: U-Today)

‘I’m a woman, I’m brown, I’m often the minority,’ says Sterre Mkatini, the new Diversity & Inclusion Officer at the UT. ‘But’, she adds, she is not here to be a poster child for diversity.’ I’m here to work on a more diverse and inclusive environment for everyone.’ (Source: U-Today)

The LGBTI+ working groups at the University of Twente, Saxion University of Applied Sciences and ROC of Twente are working together to ensure that everyone who goes to school in Twente feels included and free to be themselves, out and proud.

The UT is planning to set up a central diversity and inclusion office for both students and employees. Starting in September, a diversity officer will be tasked to take the first steps to improve the university’s policy on diversity and inclusion. (Source: U-Today)