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In the national action plan for greater diversity and inclusion in scientific education and research, Ingrid van Engelshoven, the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, presents ambitions and actions to create an inclusive, diverse and safe learning and working environment. This action plan means that the Dutch scientific education and research sector, together with the government, is taking the next step in the area of diversity and inclusion.
New targets for the number of female professors at universities for 2025 are due this year. The Academy is issuing an advisory report on the prevention of inappropriate behaviour and harassment in education and research. And NWO, the Dutch Research Council, will make € 12.5 million available from 2021 for an impulse programme targeting Dutch researchers from non-western backgrounds and refugees.
Ingrid van Engelshoven:
‘In an inclusive organisation, everyone can participate fully and equally in the organisation and decision-making. I find it hugely important to create a safe learning and working environment where everyone feels at home and can develop. The national action plan aims to encourage this. Moreover, it is becoming increasingly clear that diversity is a basic requirement for quality.’
Action plan for more than just science
At the 2019 European Gender Summit in Amsterdam, Ingrid van Engelshoven announced that she would come up with an action plan for diversity in science. There is also a desire to broaden to senior secondary vocational and higher professional in the next phase.
The five ambitions for 2025:
- Better embedding of diversity and inclusion, for example, in research proposal reviews and accreditations.
- Improved and broader monitoring of diversity in education and research, including social safety and inclusion.
- Establishing an awards system to make policy and funding diverse and inclusive.
- Pooling and supporting diversity plans of institutions so that more collaboration can take place.
- Establishing a national centre of excellence for diversity and inclusion. This knowledge centre will develop, pool and share knowledge and expertise.
Read the full action plan at www.rijksoverheid.nl. (Dutch only)
Advisory committee
A national advisory committee chaired by Prof. Vinod Subramaniam, rector magnificus of VU University Amsterdam, will advise the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the education and research field on monitoring and achieving the targets.
Cooperating partners
The action plan was prepared in close cooperation with the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Association of Universities in the Netherlands, the Dutch Network of Women Professors, Expertise Centre Diversity and the National Consultation of Diversity Officers. The action plan is also endorsed by the Dutch PhD Candidate Network (PNN) and PostdocNL.