Diversity is one of the core values in the mission statement of the University of Antwerp, around which many policies and initiatives have been developed.

For the Faculty of Social Sciences, diversity and inclusion are also central themes that we want to promote within our daily operations. Diversity refers to the range of characteristics in which people can differ from each other and which interact to make people unique and help define their identity. Diversity is not limitative and always dynamic depending on time and space. The concept of inclusion is about dealing with these differences to create an accessible environment, culture and/or system where everyone feels respected.

Amid the Antwerp metropolitan context from which the university is increasingly recruiting, the faculty aims to provide a stimulating learning environment in which all students and staff can feel at home. To this end, the faculty drafted a diversity strategy in 2018 [see pdf at the bottom of this page.

To increase sensitivity to diversity and awareness around implicit biases, we undertook some faculty-wide initiatives.

To nurture and critically highlight the policy, and to allow diverse voices to be heard, we established a "Diversity and Inclusion Network".

Diversity and inclusion are the focus of the quarterly Lunch Talks, organized by Nuff Said and FSW Connects, where we connect social issues to inspiring personal stories of artists. During 2023, we will also offer some trainings for staff around the role of the active bystander and implicit biases.

In terms of research, diversity, inclusion, inequality and social power relations are the focus of several research groups.

In the field of education, the faculty also recognizes the importance of diversity and inclusion. A wide variety of perspectives, talents and skills benefits the quality of our education; it enhances students' learning and contributes to their development as critical and nuanced social scientists who help shape our society from an open attitude. Intercultural competencies are indispensable for current and future generations of students who will live and work in a super-diverse society.

In line with this vision, diversity and inequality are not only important themes in many course units, but the faculty is also actively involved in a number of interdisciplinary courses such as City and Diversity and Migration, Integration and Diversity.

To strengthen all of this, we are organizing a faculty-wide diversity scan during 2023 to identify and further develop the already existing attention to diversity in course content and teaching approach, both at the level of course units and the program as a whole.

The faculty has a permanent staff member working in the area of diversity and inclusion.

We would love to hear your comments, feedback and/or suggestions regarding our diversity policy. Please let us hear from you using the form at the link below.