Welcome back, everyone! The opening of the academic year on 3 September left us in no doubt that diversity and inclusiveness will be important themes in the coming year. Rector Carel Stolker raised the problem of work pressure, and added that pressure of work can also be the result of an unpleasant, tough working environment, intimidation and a culture of anxiety. We’re not immune to that, he recognised, and so we have to take a serious and focused look at shaping an inclusive working environment.

Join the annual Diversity Symposium in City Resort Hotel Leiden. There will be an interactive, practically oriented afternoon programme with keynote speakers Dutch politician and writer Jan Terlouw and American inclusiveness expert Prof. Em. Barbara Love. The afternoon will be followed by the presentation of the annual Joris van Bergen Prize and will end with a buffet, presentations and artistic reflections on the day. More information will follow shortly.

Star (Space to Talk About Race) is a network that aims to create a safe space where the topics of race, racism and heritage-related matters are more freely discussable. Its goal is to generate more clarity within the institution about the importance of these matters and the vulnerability of people facing them.
 
Stay informed via Facebook or send a message to starleiden@gmail.com.

Vice-Rector Magnificus of Leiden University Hester Bijl will officially launch the LGBT+ Network. This network aims to be a platform for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer staff and students at Leiden University and their allies. Everyone is welcome to join the network in a toast!

The Ministry of Education aims to make Dutch higher education more inclusive. With its Students-4-Students campaign it invited students to come up with project proposals. Three Leiden initiatives, Daily Dutch, Pre-Study Programme (both from the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences) and network STAR were awarded a grant.

This summer, Feminist Evolution Leiden (FEL) was formed. FEL is the Dutch word for fierce. Their aim is to bring feminist programming to Leiden and everybody is welcome. They will organise lectures, bookclubs and other activities. Do you want to join? Visit FEL on Facebook and come to the official launch on 28 September in Old School. Take your feminist friends!

Many international students start their master's programme at the Humanities Faculty every semester. The Faculty's Buddy Programme is there to help them out. “I did not feel lost any longer in the new city.”

From help with filling in complex forms to a buddy who will introduce you to student life. The Meeting Point for refugee students meets many needs. This was the finding of experienced experts at the symposium in honour of the one-year anniversary of the Meeting Point.