Maastricht University celebrated its 46th Dies Natalis on Thursday 12 May 2022, in the Sint Jans Church in Maastricht. The programme included a special ceremony, in which the outgoing rector magnificus, Professor Rianne Letschert, transferred her position to Professor Pamela Habibović. The Wynand Wijnen Prize, the Dissertation Award and the Student Prizes were also presented.

Initially set to take place on 28 January 2022, the event was rescheduled due to COVID-related circumstances. Professor Habibović took up her new position as of 1 February. 

 Read more about the event 
 Enjoy a slideshow of pictures made during the event 
  Watch several videos of the 46th Dies Natalis
  Meet the winners of the Student Prizes

  Click the icon above to view the entire series.
Photos: Philip Driessen.
 

What is gender inclusive language?

Gender Inclusive Language is speaking or writing in a way that includes everyone in your target audience by ensuring they are not excluded due to gender terminology. This means that regardless of their gender identity, they feel addressed and included through your choice of words. Gender inclusive language is also language that appropriately reflects the diversity we see in the population, and a way to accurately report on findings and events.

Why use gender inclusive language at UM?

The Strategic Plan 2022-2026 highlights UM’s core values being diversity and inclusion, sustainability, mutual respect, integrity, democratic principles and transparency. At UM, everyone has the right to participate, study, work, and engage in UM activities regardless of their gender identity. Therefore, it is our responsibility to make sure the language we use actively welcomes everyone at UM to ensure inclusion and mutual respect.

Why is gender inclusive language such a big thing?

Gender (assumptions) often appear in general language use, and to varying degrees in different languages. Often, the way we write or speak changes depending on the perceived gender of the person or people we are talking to, or about. The issue is that these assumptions are not always correct, and incorrect assumptions can be hurtful. Watch our video “Sex and Gender: What? Why?, and How?” for more information.

The good news

Language is flexible and evolves, and gender inclusive language already exists and is easy to use, even if it takes a little bit of practice. For example, this introduction is written in a gender inclusive manner, and below you will find more tips for how to ensure you use gender inclusive language when writing or speaking, to/about different people.

Eighteen students completed their bachelor's degree in 2021 with a thesis that was labelled ‘excellent’ by their faculty. Here you will find a short introduction to these excellent theses in the form of an "elevator pitch" from each student, plus a video in which the supervisor briefly addresses the lucky winner.

Kato Herman

  Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences | Bachelor 

"Titel thesis"

Kato's elevator pitch
“The practice-oriented bachelor in medicine is not rounded off with a thesis. Instead, I enjoyed learning various clinical skills, such as resuscitation, although I must admit that I dreaded practicing venipuncture on a fellow student. Not so much being the venipunctor, rather the venipunctee! Putting on a white coat and buying a stethoscope were some of my first medical milestones. Venturing into the hospital in my third year was similarly exciting as theoretical knowledge finally became reality through clinical practice. It is an engaging programme that offers an understanding of the body and its functions, but also strengthens your social skills and empathy.”

Eighteen students completed their bachelor's degree in 2021 with a thesis that was labelled ‘excellent’ by their faculty. Here you will find a short introduction to these excellent theses in the form of an "elevator pitch" from each student, plus a video in which the supervisor briefly addresses the lucky winner.

Konstantin Reiners

  Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences | Bachelor European Studies

"Good Cop or Bad Cop? How the NGO Deutsche Umwelthilfe Expedites the Practical Implementation of the Ambient Air Quality Directive in Germany"

Konstantin's elevator pitch
Too often, European Union legislation remains ineffective because member states do not comply with its provisions. The goal of this thesis was to explore the potential of NGOs to address this problem by acting as decentralised enforcers of EU law. Which NGO strategy is effective in stimulating domestic compliance: a good cop strategy of cooperation with the non-compliant state or a bad cop strategy of (legal) confrontation? The analysis of the case of the German NGO Deutsche Umwelthilfe, which seeks to enforce the Air Quality Directive, reveals a high potential for the role that NGOs can play. In particular, the bad cop strategy of flooding the country with a wave of legal proceedings helped to increase the salience of the issue, indirectly releasing those capacities that the authorities had still lacked to comply with the directive.