Our Vision of Inclusion
Thomas More is diverse. This diversity enriches and strengthens us. We strive for greater diversity and inclusion at all levels.
Diversity, Inclusion, Equal Opportunities, Design for All? What do we mean by it?
Diversity
Diversity means that people differ, e.g. in terms of ethnicity, functional capabilities, age, language, religion, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, …
Inclusion
Inclusion means that all people, in all their diversity, are involved and feel safe, respected and at home.
Providing equal opportunities
Providing equal opportunities means that we recognise that people have unequal starting positions and different needs and that we approach this in a solution-oriented way. We start from ‘Design for All’ and work tailor-made where necessary. This is how we create an equal approach.
Design for All
Design for All means that we make every design, of an environment, of materials, of methods, etc., accessible to everyone, both by proactively removing barriers and by thinking and acting as diversely as possible.
Thomas More Community
Thomas More Community: a warm community of students, employees and partners
Inclusion is a shared responsibility. We expect active engagement from everyone.
We create an inclusive community where everyone feels connected, can be themselves and feel at home. We address each other and we are committed to each other.
It is the social task of the university of applied sciences to take a pioneering role in society and to propagate its vision of inclusion in education, research, services and in daily life.
Everyone matters in our community. We realise that everyone has their own frame of reference. We want to understand all perspectives and take into account specific sensitivities. We listen to each other, we can ask all sorts of questions, and we always do so with empathy, respect and gentleness.
We take a critical look at our own perspectives, stereotypes and prejudices and how we deal with them. We have the guts and the confidence to address each other about this. We do not tolerate discrimination.
We create an environment that is as safe as possible where everyone can be themselves, participate fully, share experiences and feel impactful.
We first look at what is good for everyone to remove barriers and avoid labelling. If Design for All is insufficient, we will strive for reasonable adjustments. This way we offer equal opportunities and everyone can develop their own talents.
We systematically monitor whether everyone feels connected and whether or not they experience inclusion. We measure whether we create equal opportunities and act where necessary.
Inclusion is a shared responsibility. We expect active engagement from everyone and managers in particular take a leading role. It is a continuous process that encompasses the essence of our social mission.