Ghent University – Ghent, Belgium
The activities that the department has carried out (in the last two years) with regard to equal access/inclusion/diversity are:
- support and counselling for students and university staff;
- lectures, workshops, seminars for students, faculty and non-teaching staff;
- training courses for peer educators;
- public promotion (e.g. production of media content such as podcasts);
- improving digital accessibility;
- improving physical accessibility.
- learning networks Diversity and Inclusion
The activities with the greatest impact in the context in which this office operates were lectures, workshops, seminars for students, teachers and non-teaching staff; activities regarding improving physical accessibility; and the learning networks on diversity and inclusion. Lectures, workshops, seminars for students, teachers and non-teaching staff, because it led to actions at faculties and ensured that faculties work around diversity and inclusion. Also, the exchange of good practices by faculties led to actions among faculties. (E.g. the Inclusion Charter). Regarding activities to improve physical accessibility, Ghent University organized accessibility rounds on different campuses with staff and students who have disabilities (visual, physical, auditory, ..) or ASD. Through co-creation this university tried to optimize the signage on campuses and to identify and remove obstacles as much as possible. Learning networks on Diversity and Inclusion also had a great impact because it provided more than only training.
The last innovative practise/tool introduced at Ghent University when it comes to ensuring inclusion, diversity and equal access is the ongoing work on the development of an online onboarding module called “respectful behavior”. This module is being designed for new staff and students and it consists of the following components: a) what is transgressive behavior and discrimination? What are the risk factors? What forms and examples exist in university context? 2) What to do if you experience something yourself, or see or hear something? 3) Where can you ask for advice and help? And what is the procedure at the university?
In addition to activities to support inclusion, Ghent University implements measures/activities to counter exclusionary and discriminatory practices through binding policy (legislation), recommendations/guidelines and preventive programmes.

Diversity and Inclusion Office
Ghent, Belgium
IDEA-net: Expanding the network of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) practitioners in higher education through institutional capacity building
Project ref: 2022-1-NL01-KA220-HED-000089789

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This website reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.