The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is committed to being a safe, comfortable, and equitable space for both staff and students: a place where a diversity of people feel valued and welcome, where there is room for a diversity of perspectives.

This means constantly asking ourselves the difficult question of whether everyone truly feels they belong; we must dare to scrutinise our own implicit biases and the exclusionary mechanisms within our own knowledge community. We must also apply this reflection to specific classifications that exist within our university working and learning environment, such as academic versus support staff, Dutch versus international students and staff, and students and staff with and without disabilities.

Dignity and respect

Feeling safe has a lot to do with the extent to which you are accepted and respected as you are. Inclusion is therefore a prerequisite for a sense of safety. Other important considerations are how you feel about yourself, your abilities, your future, and your surroundings. In particular, we focus on the relations between respect, inclusion, and well-being. With this in mind, we are actively working on student well-being, including the use of student ambassadors within the student community. For staff, we are working on clearer, simpler, and less bureaucratic work processes, rules, and systems.

More on student well-being >>

Recognition and rewards

At all universities, there are concerns about the heavy workload, the quality of assessment, and the lack of transparency in career policies. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is actively engaged in implementing the policy as formulated by the Recognition and Rewards workgroup, part of the university-wide programme ‘Academia in Motion’. 

Codes of conduct

We realise that much inequality at the university stems from historically constructed implicit norms. At the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, we question these norms daily and do our best to proactively change them wherever possible. We have zero tolerance for any form of discrimination and/or harassment. We have a duty of care and responsibility to stand up for each other. We promote a culture where we can safely raise such issues with each other.  

This is visible in the codes of conduct and regulations we have in our Faculty. 

Perspectives

Within our Faculty, we nurture diversity of perspectives and knowledge, both disciplinary and interdisciplinary, and encourage researchers and teachers to engage with diversity in their teaching methods and research practices. This enables us to guide students to critically examine different academic traditions. The background of students' own academic discipline is leading, but the ability to listen to, understand, and appreciate other perspectives is important, including for multidisciplinarity.

Continuous learning

The Faculty also challenges existing mental and organisational paradigms that stand in the way of inclusivity. We question implicit beliefs – in our recruitment process, for instance – whether these are reflected in texts, committee composition, or selection criteria. We make training available to students and staff (especially those in leadership positions) on implicit biases, active bystandership, feedback techniques, non-violent communication, and other related topics. 

POPcorner FSW

One of the structural initiatives in the area of diversity and inclusion is the POPcorner FSW, a leading initiative that focuses mainly on supporting students with their studies and career while they are at university. As experiential experts, students also contribute to supporting their fellow students: there are peer support initiatives for first-generation students and students from other countries.

In addition, the POPcorner offers workshops, delivered by experienced and skilled trainers, in various areas of academic and personal development.

Under the heading "Caring Communities", the POPcorner encourages the formation of student communities where students can unite but also exchange information. One good example is POP_OUT Academia, a forum for discussion and knowledge-sharing initiated by the LGBTQIA+ community at the Faculty.