Akram Achahboun: 'Education should be create equal opportunities for everyone.'
Who are the members of the Advisory Committee Diverse and Inclusive Higher Education and Research and what are they working on? We will introduce the members to you. First we introduce Akram Achahboun (22). Akram is studying Software Engineering at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. His input from a student perspective is immensely valuable to the Advisory Committee.
About Akram Achahboun
Akram: "I am currently doing an internship as a Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft. In addition to my studies and my role within the Advisory Committee, I am also chairman of the Education, Research and Student Affairs Committee within the University Council, a member of the NVAO Student Panel and Lead Youth Participation at Amnesty International.'
Building bridges
'Within the Advisory Committee, I contribute to issues at the intersection of technology, youth participation and inclusion in higher education. In education, people often talk about students, but they talk not enough with students. Within the committee, I provide a fresh, hands-on perspective and I am committed to building bridges with student organizations. Technology can be a powerful engine for diversity and inclusion, but it can also cause unintended exclusion, as we have seen with the DUO algorithm. I have addressed this subject within the Advisory Committee.'
Equal opportunities for all
'Education should not be a competition with obstacles, it should be create equal opportunities for all. Too often background, network or algorithms determine who gets forward and who is left behind. I am committed to a system, where inclusion does not require extra effort, but is the standard - so that talent and potential are more important than background or circumstances.'
Diversity and inclusion under pressure
'Diversity and inclusion continue to be further under pressure, new stories and research shows that again. My ambition is to move beyond constantly reacting to problems. Instead of constantly having to figure out what D&I challenge we need to solve next, I want us to go to the point where we just brainstorming about how to make something that's already working well better.'
'Diversity and inclusion do not start with policy, but with the people who dare to make the difference.'