Join the 5th annual EDI Festival, organised by the University of Amsterdam and the University of Birmingham
10 March 2025 | From our Members
The Universiteit van Amsterdam and the University of Birmingham are co-hosting the 5th annual Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Festival! This year’s theme, Listen to Your Community – Stories Under Pressure, focuses on understanding, defending, and strengthening EDI in the face of resistance; bringing together students and staff engaged with these topics, aiming to connect them in their engagement.
In addition to on-site events in Amsterdam, this year the festival also features three online panel discussions featuring speakers from across the world:
- April 2 (3-3.45 pm CEST): the festival will kick-off with an event focusing on Protecting EDI in a Changing World. This session will highlight the challenges institutions face as they navigate shifting political and institutional landscapes. Dr. Cornell L. Craig (Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, Hofstra University, USA), Dr. Sammy Li (Assistant Director of Student Affairs, University of Birmingham, UK), Dr. Machiel Keestra (Central Diversity Officer, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands), and Professor Paul Harpur (Co-Founder of the U21 Disabilities Communities of Practice, Australia) will discuss the risks of losing progress but will also offer tangible ways to push back.
- April 8 (1-1.45 pm CEST): the festival will continue with an event focusing on Strengthening Diversity and Inclusion by Listening from Unexpected Alliances Professionals from outside the education sector will share their insights and strategies on navigating these turbulent times.
- April 30 (1-1.45pm CEST) : the festival will conclude with a powerful online discussion on Amplifying Indigenous Voices in Academia. This session will feature Karamea Pewhairangi (Indigenous Mobility Programmes Leader, University of Otago, New Zealand) and Lorrie McAllister (Dean of the Hofstra Axinn Library, Hofstra University, USA), who will discuss how academic institutions can foster environments where Indigenous voices are not only acknowledged but actively supported, ensuring their knowledge remains a vital part of global conversations.
This festival is about listening in challenging times, not just to stories of diversity but also to those expressing concern and resistance. How do we respond? How can we remain defenders of a diverse and inclusive academic environment while recognizing the resistance?
Check the full programme & register for the events: www.uva.nl/edifestival
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.