The American embassy has sent a questionnaire to Flemish universities about their diversity policies, Education Minister Zuhal Demir has confirmed.
Foreign News
US questionnaire on diversity policy was "Not specifically aimed at universities"
Sally Tipper
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It was previously announced that European companies had received a letter and questionnaire from the US government asking whether they had anti-discrimination programmes in place within their organisations. Certain Flemish universities have also received a similar questionnaire from the US embassy. “The survey includes questions about international ties, risk management, diversity programmes and the universities’ policy on freedom of expression,” Flemish MP Brecht Warnez, of Christian democrats CD&V, told Flemish Parliament’s Education Committee.
Points will be awarded based on the answers, which the US government will monitor in order to implement “programme provisions”.
The standards and values in our knowledge institutions cannot be influenced from abroad
According to Mr Warnez, the initiative is in line with the Trump administration’s policy of putting pressure on educational institutions and companies that are expressly committed to diversity and inclusion. The Flemish Education Minister Zuhal Demir (Flemish nationalist) confirms the existence of the questionnaire. However, she told the Education Select Committee that “At this moment, there is still uncertainty about the nature and consequences of the questionnaire. What is clear is that the standards and values in our academic institutions cannot be influenced from abroad.” The Education Minister has discussed the issue with the Flemish Prime Minister, her party colleague Matthias Diependaele. Mr Diependaele's ministerial responsibilities include foreign policy and research. There has also been a meeting to discuss the issue between the Flemish Department of the Chancellery and Foreign Affairs, Flanders Investment & Trade and the American embassy.
“Questionnaire was not specifically aimed at universities”
After the committee Ms Demir’s office said that universities in Flanders had not been contacted directly by the Trump administration. "A questionnaire was sent by U.S. government months ago. Via the U.S. Embassy it was passed on to to suppliers, i.e. to companies, in Belgium. The questionnaire was not specifically aimed at the universities”.
Nevertheless, the questionnaire has in some cases ended up on the desks of researchers at universities. Ms Demir’s office went on to say that "There are documents circulating today among foreign researchers, and sometimes they reach academics here in Flanders as they are cooperating with each other on research projects. However, this is not a deliberate top-down policy from the US government. We do however remain vigilant for any foreign interference”.