New award for diversity & inclusion
New Stimulation Award aims to give promising initiatives an extra boost
Photos: Wanderlust Photography, courtesy of the EDI Office
“It was difficult to choose one winner, so the jury decided to have another award with the same amount,” explains Elias Abou Chaaya, Project Coordinator at the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Office (EDI). Both Ferguson and Al Sallal received a 2,500-euro prize to support their efforts to promote diversity at the university. The difference between the two honours is that the Stimulation Award aims to “give promising initiatives an extra boost.”
Ferguson is a Master’s student in Sustainable Business & Innovation. She won the Diversity & Inclusion Award for co-founding the first diversity network at Utrecht University based on cultural background. The ACHN currently has 80 members (both students and staff members). It organises lectures, museum visits, and other gatherings. “Ferguson has laid a solid foundation for a bright future for the ACHN”, said the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Leoniek Wijngaards, in her laudation. “I hope that UU and Science Park remain a place where we can all give support and be supported,” declared Ferguson upon accepting the award at the Utrecht University Building last Tuesday. Because of her role at the ACHN, she has been asked to join the steering committee on Slavery Past and Colonialism.
Al Sallal is pursuing a Master’s in Conflict Studies & Human Rights. He is one of the founders of the Incluusion Community, a network aiming to foster a sense of belonging among the participants of Incluusion, UU’s education and traineeship programme for refugees and asylum seekers. Al Sallal co-creates events and activities for the members, offering them a space to socialise, study and work together. “Nothing is greater than when your achievements are acknowledged”, he said upon accepting the honour. “This achievement is not mine alone, it is that of everyone around me and those who are making an effort to build a new life”.
The "Best Support Award 2024" was also announced on that same day. That's an award for UMCU employees. The winner was Nizarre Henriquez, Head Laboratory Scientist in Clinical Neurophysiology.