Second community dinner delivered great conversations
On Tuesday October 31, the second community dinner took place in the Berlage hall, where students and employees discussed the state of diversity and inclusion in education and research. ‘Where do we stand now?’ was the central question. A number of speakers from within and outside the faculty, students and employees, started the conversation with a short presentation of their own findings. They also asked specific questions to the 50 guests present.
Aike Dias-Broens, PhC candidate at EUR, presented the outcome of the research she had conducted into the ‘Sense of belonging, safety and workload’ among BK students. MaartenJan Hoekstra, director of education, talked to the guests about the numerus fixus system that we use and asked the audience whether this leads to a diverse group of students in the Bachelor’s program. Esther Gramsbergen, coordinator of Grondslagen 1 and 2, explained how they make the teaching materials in the curriculum more inclusive by, among other things, adding example plans by female architects and non-Western architecture to the teaching material. TJ Rivera, master student and employee at communication, shared with the audience what motivated him as a student to fight for diversity and inclusion. Dante Pelk, employee of the student HUB, ESA and Outsite, made an appeal to participate in Purple Friday on December 8. Leo van den Burg, bachelor’s coordinator and Nina Bohm, educational researcher, discussed the content of the personal development weeks in the new bachelor’s curriculum with the guests.
The 50 guests discussed the questions per table and then came up with answers for the speakers. There was a good and open atmosphere and the attention and enthusiasm were great. The catering was excellent with delicious food.
BK students or employees who want to dine and discuss can register for the next community dinner on Tuesday February 13. Interested? Register via Communityofficer-BK@tudelft.nl. The details of the program will follow later. If you would like to speak yourself or have a topic for the agenda, please let Cecile Calis (community officer) know via the same email address. Then she will contact you.