Need for cultural change: call for ideas

News - 07 March 2024

DEWIS stresses the need for a culture change to improve and ensure social safety. What are your ideas on how to have a good conversation about social safety with all stakeholders. 

In response to the report of the Inspectorate of Education on the social safety of employees at TU Delft, DEWIS stresses the need for a cultural change to improve and ensure social safety at TU Delft. In its report, the Inspectorate of Education concludes that social insecurity is disproportionately high among PhD students and female employees. As DEWIS, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment where everyone feels safe. 

We are convinced that a good conversation with all stakeholders is necessary to bring about a culture change. TU Delft has various channels and procedures for people who feel socially unsafe, such as the Ombuds Officer, confidential advisors and complaint procedures. But as DEWIS, we also think it is important that every employee finds a way to voice negative experiences related to social insecurity to the Executive Board, Deans and Directors, so we can learn from these experiences. We will also use our network within the University, possibly together with the Diversity Office and/or the Delft Young Academy. In the coming weeks, we will be meeting with stakeholders to explore how we can have a good conversation about social safety at TU Delft. Following today's message from the Executive Board, DEWIS would like to hear your ideas. 

On 8 March 2024, DEWIS will celebrate International Women's Day together with the TUD community. In our programme we will ask for your ideas on how to have a good conversation with all stakeholders about social safety. Please let us know your wishes/comments via an idea box in the auditorium on 8 March and after the celebration via DEWIS coordinator Astrid Taal (A.N.Taal@tudelft.nl). 

DEWIS board 

Zofia Lukszo 
Jantien Stoter 
Ingrid Mulder 
Claudia Werker 
Astrid Taal