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University of Bremen students Lea Elena Fischer and Jessica Winter are set to receive funding to launch a joint project on diversity and inclusion. Under the headline "Decolonialising the Curriculum", they are planning a round table discussion with Professor Gloria Wekker.

In total, 13 student and staff projects will be funded by the YUFE Alliance. Each YUFE Diversity & Inclusivity Grant, or D&I Grant, is funded by the network with up to 1200 Euros. Under the project title “Decolonizing the Curriculum,” the two women are planning a roundtable with the University of Antwerp to be held online on May 31, 2022. Keynote speaker will be Professor Gloria Wekker from Utrecht University (registration link see below).

The processes of European colonization are to be explored and discussed at the public event. “We talk a lot about European identities within YUFE,” explains Fischer. “But we also need to deal with the colonial backgrounds of our history.” These still have an impact on the structures and curricula of European universities. Take the humanities as an example – most authors whose work is read are white and not very diverse. At the online roundtable, Fischer and Winter, together with a member of staff from the University of Antwerp, would like to invite experts on the topic with whom they and fellow students can engage in discussion and also exchange ideas.

“Doing more in everyday life to create more diverse and inclusive communities”

“Diversity and inclusivity are central to the YUFE Alliance and are core values for all members,” says Dr. Cassandra Ellerbe, who is responsible for this area of YUFE at the University of Bremen. The D&I program was created to find out how the alliance can further explore diversity and inclusion within the network.

George Apeitos, Vice Chair of the YUFE Student Forum at the University of Cyprus and one of the jury members for the D&I grants, states: “Diversity and inclusion has been one of the most important aspects of the YUFE Alliance right from the very beginning. All of us, but especially students, must be committed to more diverse and inclusive communities through our everyday attitudes.” Apeitos is now looking forward to realizing the 13 projects and thanks everyone involved for their support.