LNVH | Affiliates' Meeting | An impression 

On October 11th the Annual LNVH Affiliates’ Meeting took place in the Railway Museum in Utrecht. Central theme of this Affiliates’ Meeting was ‘the road traveled, current challenges and future perspectives’. 

Hanneke Takkenberg, chair of the LNVH board, kicked-off the meeting with an introductory talk about the achievements of the LNVH in the past 20 years. She also highlighted the goals for the next 20 years. Takkenberg underlined the fact that the LNVH has become a critical ally of the universities and of the policy makers within Dutch academia. ‘We push their agendas, and we help them make our universities better universities. We do not do that ourselves; we just push them in the right direction. That’s the role that we have, because in the end it is the system that has to change itself for the better.’

Takkenberg stated she is happy that there is so much more attention for diversity and inclusion in general. This helps us to push our agenda, but we also run into some of the challenges that come along with having a broader view on diversity. Every now and then Takkenberg hears leadership and policy makers say: “The women are doing quite well. I think we are going to focus on another type of diversity now”. This is worrying, because there is still a lot to be achieved in terms of gender equality. Takkenberg stressed it is important that we make clear that LNVH is there for all women in science, regardless of their backgrounds and where they are from. ‘That is going to be our focus over the next period of time. We will collaborate with other stakeholders in the diversity field. So that we can join forces, not compete with each other, but reinforce and amplify each other.’ 

The central theme ‘the road traveled, current challenges and future perspectives’ is also central to the work and life of the speakers we invited. We were delighted to welcome professor in the Interdisciplinary study of societal challenges at Leiden University, dean of Leiden University College and this year's laureate of the NWO Stevin Prize, prof. dr. Judi Mesman. Mesman conducts research into the role of gender, cultural and socio-economic factors of parents and children in shaping parent-child interactions and developmental pathways. 

Leila Prnjavorac, moderator of the meeting, talked with Judi Mesman about winning the Stevin Prize and her research plans. Mesman thinks she will be zooming out a little bit, looking beyond the family and school context when it comes to issues of diversity and inclusion and to look at the way that future professionals who will work with children and families are being taught about child development, about parenting, about education. I’m expecting there to be quite a lot hidden in de curriculum about norms and values that nobody explicitly talks about, but are there and they have something to say about what is appropriated, about what is “normal”, who is normal, etc.’

Responding to the question ‘What do you see as an important development in academia?’ Mesman answered: ‘I think the broader attention to diversity and inclusion, more generally in academia is really important. That goes together a little bit with what I am planning in my research. I know people get nervous when you mention the term decolonization. But if you really only see it as thinking critically about who is teaching what about whom and towards what goals... that can only be good for academic research and teaching. To reflect a little bit more explicitly on what we are presenting to our students and what we are presenting to future researchers as knowledge, as valid knowledge, as facts. I don’t think it is a scary process, I think it is a really exciting process. Because I think it will open up doors to stories and knowledge that have been hidden and have been in the background for a long time.’

We were also very pleased to welcome Mardjan Seighali, chair of the Humanistisch Verbond, member of the advisory board of the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights and director of the foundation for refugee students UAF. The UAF provides support to refugee students and professionals. In smart and effective ways, they offer refugees opportunities to further develop themselves in the field of study and work. She is also the author of the book 'Tot op de dag', published in 2021. Leila Prnjavorac talked with Seighali about her inspiring journey and everything she has achieved in her impressive career and with her impactful work for UAF.

Talking about inclusivity, Seighali said, ‘It's not 5 to, but 5 past 12.’ She said she definitely sees progress, because many people are talking about inclusivity. But it's very patchy and there's too much incidental intervention, while inclusiveness should concern all of us. According to Seighali, education, from primary to higher education, must lay the foundation for an inclusive society. ‘I sometimes hear people say things like “there is no exclusion or institutional racism”. And then I think: it shouldn't be a political issue. Our society ís diverse. How can you create a diverse and inclusive society in which color and origin are not seen as a threat?'.

According to Seighali, people often say: you have to see similarities, but her message is that we should certainly recognize and acknowledge similarities, but also cherish the difference. Differences create new insights and science and the world benefit from differences in insights in order to take the next step, to be enriched. ‘So in that regard, as far as I'm concerned, not enough can be done on diversity and inclusion.’

Between these interesting talks participants had plenty of opportunity to catch up and network during drinks and dinner. Courses where served between and after the interviews on a unique location in the Railway Museum: the Oriënt Express platform. Jazz combo Peptalk provided a cheerful musical setting for the evening.

It was a truly inspiring event and we are very happy that we were able to meet each other in person again - although still with the limited number of only 75 participants due to COVID-19 restrictions.

• You can watch the full introduction by Hanneke Takkenberg and the conversation with Judi Mesman via this link.
• The conversation with Mardjan Seighali can be watched via this link.
• A (more) detailed report of the evening can be found on our website.

LNVH | Strategic Session

On September 27, the annual strategic session (heidag) of the LNVH took place. The board and bureau of the LNVH came together in Huize Marlot, in The Hague. Theme of the heyday was the course of the LNVH amidst the current developments with regard to the broader focus on Diversity and Inclusion in academia. The central question was: ‘How can the LNVH realize its mission of equal representation and have a lasting impact in achieving an inclusive academy in this time of changing focus on diversity and inclusion?’. How do we relate to those developments? What will the course of the LNVH be for the next five years? How do we maintain that course and how does this translate into our actions and activities? The findings of this day – culminating in, among other things, a new mission statement – will be shared in due time.

Assistant Professors Network

On 29 November 12:00 - 13:30 the first meeting of the to be founded Assistant Professors Network (working title: APnet) will take place. A group of enthusiastic Assistant Professors is trying to unite the assistant professors of the Netherlands in a network, similar to the PhD network PNN and PostdocNL. The dual aim is foster networking between Assistant Professors and between universities, and to obtain a seat at the table with regard to the political and strategical decisions concerning academia and the position of Assistant Professors in the Netherlands. The LNVH fulfills an advisory role on how to build and establish such a network.
 
For more information and registration for the meeting click here. A Zoom-link will be sent to registered attendants 1 day in advance. If you questions or remarks you can contact APnet via AstProfNetherlands@gmail.com. 

LNVH | Requests for Mentoring 

The LNVH supports women scientists by linking them to peers who are able to advice and support them as a mentor. This month we received one new request. We are looking forward to finding a mentor among you who can advise and support:
 
A female associate professor in Geosciences. She, like several others, has been asked to apply for a professorship that will soon become vacant. She is looking for someone who can help her prepare for the application process; both with regard to what she can do now to make her profile as attractive as possible and to the procedure itself: the letter of application, research, education and management vision, the interview, etc.
 
Do you have experience with this type of procedures and are you interested in mentoring this person? Or have suggestions and/or tips? Please send an email to info@lnvh.nl.

LNVH I Participants Women Empowerment Event

Student association CIROS, for the students of the International Relations and Organizations program at Leiden University, is organizing a month of events dedicated to mental health each year. The week from November 15 - 21 is ‘Confidence Week’ and on November 17 an event on ‘Women Empowerment’ is planned. 
 
During the event a movie on women empowerment and confidence will be screened. Afterwards there will be a discussion about it. The Student Support Committee is looking for women in academia who are dedicated members of our network and would like to participate in this discussion. They are looking for someone who could share some tips and tricks for young women in academia and in the workplace in general. If you would like to contribute in any way, you can send an email to info@lnvh.nl.

Research: What really holds women back in the workplace

There is still a lack of women in leadership positions. Ask people why that is, and you'll hear from the vast majority that it has something to do with women's preference for work-life balance, or because women aren't suited to leadership roles. Behavioral scientist Sofia Schlamp questions these assumptions. According to Schlamp, it is important to use a micro perspective (the behavior of employees towards women) and a macro perspective (the organizational structure) to better understand the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions.
 
Schlamp defended her dissertation at VU Amsterdam on October 14. Her dissertation Women Striving for Leadership: The Role of Follower Perceptions and Organisational Structure can be read here.

National coordination violence against women

Insufficient cooperation between (social assistance) agencies means that women who experience (partner) violence do not receive the care they need. Insufficient coordination & cooperation between authorities aggravates the suffering and pain. Therefore, national coordination is a necessity.
 
The national umbrella organization Dutch Women's Council (de Nederlandse Vrouwenraad; NVR) is working on this national coordination. The LNVH wholeheartedly supports this campaign. You can support this initiative by signing the petition ‘Stop violence against women’ here and by sharing it in your network.

Diversity in leadership: interviews with professionals working in the field of D&I

Melissa Selzener, a master student in the Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology programme at the University of Groningen, interviewed professionals working in the field of diversity and inclusion. She asked the interviewees the following questions: What are the current issues with diversity in leadership? What should leadership look like in the future? How can we get more diversity in leadership? One of the professionals Selzener interviewed is Lidwien Poorthuis, managing director of the LNVH. Selzeners project was part of the Honours Programme “Leadership: Making the Difference”. Watch the video with all the interviews here. 

The Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU) is now adopting a number of national measures intended to be a source of support for every university and employee. These guidelines for ‘Addressing threats to and harassment of scientists’ also include examples of best practices which universities can implement in order to support employees who have received threats.

Podcast Tips 

Interesting reads

• Wetenschappers hebben een Fair Practice Code nodig – overdemuur.org, October 26, 2021 – in Dutch 
• Discussion about 'wokeism' and academic freedom in NRC (in Dutch):
  • Woke is geen centraal gestuurde beweging – NRC, October 26, 2021 – in Dutch
  • ‘Woke’ bedreigt de academische vrijheid – NRC, October 25, 2021 – in Dutch
  • ‘Woke’ is geen spook maar zaak van woord en wederwoord – NRC, October 18, 2021 – in Dutch 
  • Watch and listen here to the reaction of, among others, Ineke Sluiter, president of The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in the radio program Dit is de Dag (NPO radio 1, October 25, 2021, 18h30-19h00) – in Dutch
• “Kabinet: voeg 1,1 miljard toe aan de eerste geldstroom van universiteiten” – Scienceguide, October 21, 2021 – in Dutch
• EUR managers call for safe debate for everyone – Erasmus Magazine, October 21, 2021
• Gender gap in journal submissions and peer review during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A study on 2329 Elsevier journals – journals.plos.org, October 20, 2021
• De Nederlandse taal verliest steeds meer terrein op universiteiten – Scienceguide, October 20, 2021 – in Dutch
• Diversiteit en respect leiden tot spanningen in cultureel divers mbo – Scienceguide, October 20, 2021 – in Dutch
• ‘Vrouwen hebben recht op hogere compensatie energienota dan mannen’ – AD, October 19, 2021 – in Dutch
• Arme werkenden – FD, October 17, 2021– in Dutch
• Heksen als een soort oerfeministen? Verleidelijke theorie, maar historici zijn het er niet mee eens – de Volkskrant, October 15, 2021– in Dutch
• Universiteiten bepleiten betere onderzoeksfinanciering en verlaging winstbelasting – Scienceguide, October 14, 2021– in Dutch
• Working from home makes women’s academic guilt worse – universityworldnews, October 14, 2021
• Deuggleuf (v) zoekt originele kijk op woke debat na voorspelbare fittie met witte racist (m) – de Correspondent, October 14, 2021– in Dutch
• Hbo’ers en armere studenten vaker getroffen door coronacrisis – Scienceguide, October 13, 2021 – in Dutch
• Wetenschappers hoeven zich niet meer te schamen als ze worden bedreigd – Scienceguide, October 13, 2021 – in Dutch
• Lhbti+-studenten vallen vaker uit vanwege discriminatie – Scienceguide, October 13, 2021 – in Dutch
• “Universiteiten moeten niet doorschieten in valorisatiebeleid” – Scienceguide, October 13, 2021 – in Dutch
• Is transphobia an academic critique? – The Critic, October 12, 2021
• Hoe streven naar ‘inclusie’ emancipatie belemmert – NRC, October 12, 2021 – in Dutch
• Equality at the surgery – News University of Groningen, October 12, 2021
• "Goed dat de overheid laat zien dat meer vrouwen in de top een prioriteit is" – News Utrecht University, October 11, 2021 – in Dutch
• Female students at Cambridge to be told: You risk childlessness – The Sunday Times, October 10, 2021
• Young Academy Groningen publishes report on harassment in academia – News University of Groningen, October 8, 2021
• ‘Om meer salaris vragen ís geen zeuren’– NRC, October 7, 2021– in Dutch
• “Gender equality should be more than window dressing” – News TU/e, October 7, 2021
• Hoeveel kost het diversiteitsbeleid in het hoger onderwijs de belastingbetaler? – Scienceguide, October 6, 2021 – in Dutch
• Aanpak van nieuwe Erkennen en Waarderen verschilt nogal per universiteit – Scienceguide, October 6, 2021 – in Dutch
• ‘Student-enquêtes bedreigen onderwijskwaliteit’ ­– Onderwijsblad, October 2021 – in Dutch
• Van wantrouwen tot bedreiging. Hoe tackelen we dat? – NieuwWij, September 30, 2021 – in Dutch
• "We’d like to see every group have a double safety net" – News TU/e, September 30, 2021
• Er komt een meldpunt voor intimidatie van wetenschappers –  Scienceguide September 29, 2021 – in Dutch
• Het is de eigen schuld, van die ‘ambitieloze mutsen’ en deeltijders? Dat is echt onzin –  NRC, September 23, 2021 – in Dutch
• Birgitte Schoenmakers wordt eerste vrouwelijke hoogleraar huisartsgeneeskunde aan de KU Leuven – Knack, September 22, 2021 – in Dutch

Appointments & Prizes 

Vacancies