The document discusses diversity and inclusion policies and measures in Flemish higher education. The key objectives of Flemish SD policy are to promote access to and participation in higher education, progression and success, social cohesion, and addressing demographic trends. The Flemish government provides a legal framework and funding to support higher education institutions' (HEIs) development of their own diversity and inclusion policies. HEIs have autonomy to develop policies and receive integrated funding for student support services. Specific measures include lower tuition for disadvantaged students, funding for tutoring programs, developing tools to improve study choice, and establishing a support center for inclusive higher education.

1. Diversity & inclusion
Flemish picture
Valérie Van Hees
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Diversity and inclusion in an international context

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Diversity and inclusion in an international context
SD Objectives
o Central to the Flemish SD policy is access to and participation in higher education,
but also progression and success within it:
o Getting more young people to and through higher education in a way that
promotes social cohesion, social mobility, ‘democratisation of higher education’
and that addresses the demographic trends;
o Improving the attainment and achievement for those who are most at risk of
failing in higher education programmes;
o Reducing the educational attainment gap between the different groups

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SD Strategy
o Flemish government provides a legal framework for HEI in which they are able to
develop their own SD policy
o Flemish government offers a number of measures (financial or otherwise) to
support HEI in the development of their SD policy
o The legal framework and other supportive measures are the result of a structural
dialogue between government and stakeholders (eg HEI, students, social
partners)
o HEI have a large autonomy to develop their own SD-policies.

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SD Measures
o Funding for SD integrated in overall financing mechanism for HEI (since 2012)
o Separate funding for student social services (embedded by law)
o Lower tuition fees for scholarship students
o An extra weighting factor (1.5) in the funding formula for students from a lower
socio-economic background, disabled students and students who combine
working with studying;
o Regulation Inclusive Higher Education (students with disabilities)

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Diversity and inclusion in an international context
SD Measures
o A number of small or specific funding/measures, including
o Project financing on student tutoring for disadvantaged groups;
o Development of tools for improving study choice of pupils venturing to enter HE;
o National aptitude test toolkit for new entrants allowing aspirant students to
test/evaluate their motivation/interests/aspirations, their way of studying and
learning, their preparedness for a particular discipline;

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Diversity and inclusion in an international context
o Establishment by law and financing of a Support Centre Inclusive Higher
Education (SIHO) to ensure synergies
SD Measures

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Diversity and inclusion in an international context

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Diversity and inclusion in an international context
Equality Equity Universal Design
Inclusive Universities

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Diversity and inclusion in an international context
Charter disadvantaged students
o Charter on collecting and monitoring data of disadvantaged groups in a uniform way
o Students with a disabilities
o Students with a migration background,
o Students newcomers
o Students with home language other than Dutch
o Students with other home language(s) besides Dutch,
o Working students
o Grant students and near-grant students
o Students originating from a short-educated or medium-skilled environment.

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Diversity and inclusion in an international context
Charter disadvantaged students

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Diversity and inclusion in an international context
Access Teaching & Learning

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Diversity and inclusion in an international context
Inclusive mobility
• Action plan for mobility of students (2013)
• Specific attention for inclusion:
- targets
- comprehensive monitoring
• 33% of the mobile students should
belong to underrepresented groups
- students with study grant
- students with disabilities
- working students
• www.inclusivemobility.eu

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Diversity and inclusion in an international context
National aptitude test toolkit

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Diversity and inclusion in an international context
Tutoring programmes

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Diversity and inclusion in an international context
Mental health

16. Q&A
Questions?
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Diversity and inclusion in an international context