International Day of Education: Making Learning Accessible & Inclusive
Education is a human right, a public good, and a public responsibility. For this reason, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 24 January as the International Day of Education, recognizing education’s vital role in peace and development.
At the BCDSS, we put this commitment into practice. We welcome students and researchers from all over the world and value diversity in language, gender, religion, age, health, social and cultural background, and sexuality as a strength that supports excellent research and teaching. As part of the University of Bonn, a signatory to the Charter of Diversity, the BCDSS works through its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion framework to foster an academic environment free of prejudice, discrimination, and harassment.
You can listen to our students share their experience of studying at the BCDSS and living in Bonn in this video series.
Inclusion as a foundation for accessibility
The BCDSS recognizes that access to education is not only about admission. Barriers can persist if people do not feel safe, respected, or heard. This is why the BCDSS emphasizes inclusion: creating learning and working environments where diverse perspectives and needs are recognized and valued, and where barriers to participation are identified and reduced. This work is supported by clear reporting channels and guided by the BCDSS Antidiscrimination Policy.
Phase 2: Upcoming DEI workshops
Inclusive education requires skills. The DEI activities in phase 2 of the BCDSS have plenty to offer on practical training for inclusive communication, teaching, and leadership - and invites all members to participate in upcoming workshops in 2026 covering the following topics:
- Supporting People with Psychological Difficulties
- ‘Forming Feminist Bands’ to support women in academia
- Understanding the Importance of Diversity in Academia
- Inclusive Leadership for Academics
Details for these workshops (dates TBC) will be posted on our BCDSS DEI Certificate page soon. They build on previous DEI sessions at the BCDSS (e.g., inclusive teaching spaces, unconscious bias, microaggressions, and anti-discrimination training). They are part of our ongoing effort to reflect, learn, and improve, so that our teaching, collaboration, and everyday academic practices become increasingly inclusive and supportive for all.
