In 2020, the University of Antwerp issued a message in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. Experiences and suggestions were collected and the university expressed their support for the movement.. This input was used by Team Diversity & Inclusion for its policy work. In March 2022, Rector Herman Van Goethem inaugurated the Aula Patrice Lumumba in the presence of the Lumumba family. To acknowledge our university's colonial past, to name and address current power inequalities, and to  give the values that Patrice Lumumba symbolises, a place at the university. Values such as emancipation, respect, equality and human rights.

While these initiatives are meaningful and create awareness, it is also important that we continue to work on creating structural changes. Higher education institutions in Flanders still have a long way to go in tackling ethno-cultural inequalities. In March, we challenge ourselves as the UAntwerp community to continue working together on ethno-cultural inclusion. We are also looking beyond our university and shift our perspective to the world as well. In March we will also highlight Global Engagement. Global Engagement aims to be a catalyst for putting issues on the university agenda and promoting critical discussions about international cooperation, decolonisation, knowledge production and critical global citizenship in general and the University of Antwerp's relations with the Global South in particular. The latter focus is not only limited to international partnerships, but also to the treatment of students and staff on our campus. Decolonisation as a process requires the promotion of open discussion and reflection, not avoiding critical self-reflection and questions about (ethno-cultural) inequality and injustice rooted in power.

Steps in policy development have also been taken. In 2022, the Strategic Framework for Global Engagement was launched. In December 2023, a declaration of commitment to ethno-cultural inclusion, with an accompanying evidence-based policy document, was signed by all Flemish universities. This was an initiative of the VLIR and the Young Academy. Both initiatives aim to create structural change.

The International Day Against Racism (21/3) also takes place in the month of March.

March 2024 is therefore dedicated to ethno-cultural inclusion and global engagement. During this month, we would like to involve you, as a student or staff member, in the steps we have taken and also give you a say in the steps we can take as a university in the future.

On this page you will find interesting policy documents, initiatives and campaigns, and exciting activities that the University of Antwerp is organising during the month of March.

Let's shape our inclusive future!