In the De Rooij building, on June 9, 2022, Nyenrode Business University signed the Diversity Charter together with four other educational institutions. In doing so, Nyenrode emphasized its commitment to being an inclusive organization with diverse perspectives and backgrounds. The meeting was organized by SER Diversity in Business (SER Diversiteit in Bedrijf) in cooperation with Nyenrode.
Koen Becking, President and Chairman of the Nyenrode Executive Board, points out the importance of the subject matter for Nyenrode. He signed the Charter on behalf of the university. "I see Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion as essential to the flourishing of our institution," Becking said. "Our students and participants live in a world characterized by diversity. If they are to operate successfully in it and make a difference, they must be able to deal with it."
"Through our education and research, we at Nyenrode contribute to the development of responsible leaders, entrepreneurs, and organizations. As a university, we propagate the core values of Leadership, Entrepreneurship & Stewardship. These are, as far as I am concerned, strongly linked to Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion."
Gender equality
In the coming period, Nyenrode will pay particular attention to gender equality and cultural diversity. In his welcome speech, Becking referred to the origins of the institute in 1946 when the aim of the school was to form entrepreneurial young men, so-called "doe-jongens," and prepare them for positions in international business. Only young men. From the early 1970s, this changed and the first female students were admitted. "Today we have more female students and faculty, and also now have a woman in our three-member Executive Board. But we're not there yet, and that's why it's important to keep coming back to this topic."
Cultural diversity
"Nyenrode has traditionally had an international orientation," Becking said. "We currently see this reflected, among other things, in our English-language degree programs that attract students from all over the world. We recently added an English-language part-time accountancy program to our portfolio, the first in the Netherlands. For our international students to get the most out of their education, they need an environment where they feel welcome. With enough other students, staff, and faculty members with an international background and a climate that aims to make them feel that they really belong."
"For us as a Dutch university with an international focus, more cultural diversity among staff and students is essential." Among other things, Becking points to the new Nyenrode Scholarship Fund that was launched during the lustrum celebration on June 4. "From that Nyenrode Scholarship Fund, we are going to offer different types of scholarships. We want to offer motivated talents the chance to reach their full potential with financial contributions from our alumni. Students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to study here. These include international students, including refugees, and students with limited financial resources from the Netherlands."
"By attracting these students, we want to encourage a different way of thinking. These students can contribute to a more diverse study climate within Nyenrode through their background and experiences and through their view of the world. This is important for all our students because we want to prepare them for a career in which they also have to deal with differences and diversity."