Diversity Week: Building a community, together

That’s why THUAS is dedicating this week to diversity and accessibility with the campaign “Building a community, together.”

“Accessibility isn’t a problem you solve, but a culture you build”, said Executive Board Chair Elisabeth Minnemann yesterday during the kickoff event of Accessibility Week, which aligned beautifully with our Diversity Week. “To achieve that, we need a community that thinks with us and connects perspectives. Diversity and accessibility aren’t side issues, they’re at the heart of quality education and research. Only by removing barriers and creating a space where different insights come together can the university truly fulfill its societal role.”

Not Optional

Boudewijn Bakker, policy advisor at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, emphasized the importance of structural attention to this theme: “There are many opportunities to improve accessibility, but in practice, they often fade away. Perhaps we as a ministry need to be stricter at times and set more targeted requirements to ensure that organizations actually take action.” His message underscores that accessibility is not optional, but requires choices and responsibility at every level.

Diversity Week 

Today, on Diversity Day, we’re launching an internal campaign that connects our core values: Curious, Connected, Caring, and Committed, with the idea of one community. With a performance in the central hall, a festive kickoff with students and staff, and a substantive session on the hidden curriculum, we’re exploring how to make diversity more visible and tangible in our daily education and work.

On Wednesday, workshops and presentations will offer practical tools like tips on setting up a Diversity Board within your program, to methods for peer mediation and a conversation with the Municipality of The Hague about women’s emancipation and inclusive living. The program creates space to learn and engage in dialogue about what it means to truly be seen and heard.

A Wonderful Opportunity  

Elisabeth: “An inclusive environment works for everyone, and we share the responsibility to build it together. Diversity Week is a wonderful opportunity for students, staff, and partners to actively contribute.”