UAntwerp has more than 2,000 PhD students. What drives them? Where do they feel their support comes from? And isn’t their work lonely sometimes? We invited three of them to tell us how it really is.
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How can you respond as a witness to inappropriate behaviour without putting yourself in a difficult position? That question is at the heart of a new bystander training programme now available at UAntwerp. The initiative is timely, as Lien Smets, training officer at HR (DP&O), explains why the training is more important than ever.
The Diversity & Inclusion Team organised focus groups to explore the experiences of colleagues with disabilities. Those with invisible disabilities, such as autism, ADHD, or chronic illnesses, often hesitate to speak up, fearing misunderstanding or lack of change. The discussions highlighted a strong need for role models, a safe environment, and clear information about available support. Flexibility in work arrangements and practical adjustments were also seen as essential. Two colleagues share their experiences here.
March 8 marks International Women’s Day. With 52% female employees, UAntwerp seems to be performing well in terms of gender equality. But there’s a caveat: in the highest academic ranks, eight out of ten professors are still men. “How can women advance? The first step is to talk about your ambitions.”
When New Zealander Professor Regan Watts from the Faculty of Design Sciences moved to Antwerp five years ago, the support of his colleague Professor Koenraad Keignaert and his wife Katrien proved invaluable. ‘As a newcomer, you have a million questions and you want good answers to them’, Regan says while thinking back.
Professor Patrice Perreault of the Faculty of Science and his wife Marisol supported the Spanish Amaya when she swapped Puerto Rico for a job at UAntwerp. ‘As expats, we are well aware of how important it is to have help in the beginning’, says Patrice.
How do you welcome new employees in times when a face-to-face chat or breakfast with the whole team is not an option? The obvious answer is online, but is that enough? ‘While we miss the social aspect of face-to-face meetings, there are also advantages. We’ll definitely keep doing some things online in the future’, says the HR Department.