Discrimination, racism and prejudice

Description: This dissertation enriched the knowledge on ‘integration’ by combining a multidimensional with a multi- and intergenerational perspective. We added to existing knowledge by including not only migrants and their children in our study, but also their grandchildren; and by studying integration from not only a multi- but also an intergenerational perspective. Furthermore, we showed how the concept of (the politics of) belonging provides much needed additional tools to open up the discussion about the definition and the pathways of integration with the perspectives of (descendants of) migrants themselves, to conceptualise their transnational belongings next to their local ones, and to grasp the dynamic interplay between (descendants of) migrants and the broader (receiving) society. We concluded that (studying) integration should not only be about increasing similarities to a dominant majority group, but also about the remaking of the mainstream and its growing capacity for dissent.
Promoter(s): Ilse Derluyn , Lieve Bradt
Researcher(s): Floor Verhaeghe
Faculty / Faculties: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
Period of time: 2012 - 2019

Description: The Diversity in Education project considers the social inequalities in the Belgian educational system based on ethnicity, socio-economic background, disability and gender. In collaboration with KULeuven and ULB, the project has three research objectives. 1) An analytic overview of the current knowledge concerning social inequalities in the Belgian educational system 2) An analysis of the ways in which schools and teachers deal with diversity at school 3) An innovative analysis of the orientation process in schools
Website research project: https://www.unia.be/nl/publicaties-statistieken/publicaties/diversiteitsbarometer-onderwijs
Promoter(s): Reinhilde Pulinx , Piet Van Avermaet
Researcher(s): Wendelien Vantieghem , Iris Roose
Faculty / Faculties: Faculty of Arts and Philosophy
Period of time: 2015 - 2016

Description: EdisTools aims to get a better understanding of ethnic inequality and ethnic discrimination in the social domains of health, housing, education and work, so that (often well-intentioned or unconscious) processes that give rise to it can be addressed. EdisTools wants to develop both innovative, scientific knowledge and user-friendly training tools that service providers and organizations in these domains can use.
Website research project: https://edistools.org/
Promoter(s): Peter Stevens , Stijn Baert , Eva Derous , Wendelien Vantieghem , Sara Willems , Pieter-Paul Verhaeghe
Researcher(s): Fanny D'hondt , Stijn Schelfhout , Abel Ghekiere , Marloes Hagenaars , Louis Lippens , Robin Vandecasteele
Faculty / Faculties: Faculty of Political and Social Sciences , Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , Faculty of Economics and Business Administration , Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
Period of time: 2019 - 2023

Description: Migrants, Applicants for international protection and Refugees are at high risk of sexual violence prior to, during and after their arrival in Europe. Up to 58% and 32% of female and male refugees respectively, have experienced sexual victimization. Although an integrated and holistic approach (encompassing forensic, medical and psychosocial care) from detection to follow-up has been recognized as the best care for all SV victims, access to holistic care for migrant victims is hampered by a broad range of barriers. Frontline professionals working with migrants often lack the specialist knowledge, language skills and tools to provide inclusive and holistic care for victims, or do not know where to refer them. The general aim of the INHeRE project was to improve inclusive, holistic care for migrant victims of sexual violence, regardless of their age, gender, sexual orientation and/or legal status by strengthening the capacity of multi-sector frontline professionals.
Website research project: https://www.icrhb.org/nl/projecten/inclusive-holistic-care-for-migrant-victims-of-sexual-violence-inhere
Promoter(s): Ines Keygnaert , Ilse Derluyn
Researcher(s): Leni Linthout , Ines Keygnaert , An Verelst , Nikolett Szelei
Faculty / Faculties: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
Period of time: 2019 - 2021

Description: In many countries, global mobility and migration create a more diverse society. This shift in population also reflects in schools. However, pupils have great diversity in terms of ethnicity, talents, beliefs, and language skills; we see that Flemish schools still apply a monolingual language policy. Whereby Dutch is considered to be the standard language of instruction. Many Flemish schools completely ban the home language of pupils. This study aims to look at the school's language policy dynamics and how they influence each other (micro-, meso- and macro-level). During this ethnographic research, an intervention takes place, 2 classes of a Flemish secondary school are observed, interviews are conducted with teachers, pupils, management, and language teachers throughout the different phases of the research. This research aims to investigate how teachers' perceptions, attitudes, behaviors towards multilingualism change in the classroom after they implement FML in their own classroom.
Website research project: https://research.flw.ugent.be/en/projects/multilingualism-secondary-education-flanders-dynamics-language-policy
Promoter(s): Wendelien Vantieghem , Piet Van Avermaet
Researcher(s): Maxime Van Raemdonck
Faculty / Faculties: Faculty of Arts and Philosophy
Period of time: 2019 - 2023

Description: Schools and teachers around the world are facing a growing diversity and increasing complexity (social inequality, labeling, …). In the past, pupils’ assignments to classrooms and schools have rather fostered segregation than encouraged inclusion. Today, we see a tendency towards more inclusive learning environments (cf. amongst others, the UN Convention of 2007, ratified by Belgium in 2009). However, this poses enormous challenges to the professional development of (pre-service) teachers and teams. The main objective of the project ‘POTENTIAL’, Power to Teach All, is to develop the competences of (pre-service) teachers and school teams to create inclusive learning environments. 
Website research project: https://research.flw.ugent.be/en/projects/potential-power-teach-all-competence-development-create-inclusive-learning-environments
Promoter(s): Piet Van Avermaet
Researcher(s): Wendelien Vantieghem , Iris Roose
Faculty / Faculties: Faculty of Arts and Philosophy
Period of time: 2016 - 2019

Description: Although language diversity poses short-term challenges, early multilingualism and multi-literacy come with great benefits, at least, when it is correctly supported. Currently, many language minority (LM) families are distressed about language issues and many early childhood (EC) professionals (such as parenting advisors and childcare staff) feel insecure in their approach toward LM families. This project aims to transform this societal problem by promoting early multilingualism and multi-literacy in childhood and childcare in Flanders. In the first phase of the project, large-scale data and small-scale will be collected. This will generate critical insights about the needs of LM families and competencies of EC professionals. In the second phase, this knowledge will be integrated into five valorisation applications that will address the broad field of EC professionals.
Website research project: https://research.flw.ugent.be/en/projects/pro-m-promoting-early-multilingualism-childhood-and-childcare
Promoter(s): Wendelien Vantieghem , Piet Van Avermaet
Researcher(s): Victoria Van Oss
Faculty / Faculties: Faculty of Arts and Philosophy
Period of time: 2018 - 2022

Description: The REMEDI project (2020-2023) aims to gain understanding in general practitioners’ decision making regarding patients with mental health problems in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. It is funded by BELSPO, coordinated by Prof. Piet Bracke (Department of Sociology, Hedera) and carried out in collaboration with Prof. Vincent Lorant and his team (UCLouvain, Department of Public Health).
Website research project: https://www.ugent.be/ps/sociologie/en/researchgroups/hedera/research-projects/remedi.htm
Promoter(s): Piet Bracke , Vincent Lorant
Researcher(s): Melissa Ceuterick , Katrijn Delaruelle , Camille Duveau , Camille Wets
Faculty / Faculties: Faculty of Political and Social Sciences
Period of time: 2020 - 2023

Description: The EU increasingly seeks to outsource or 'externalise' its international responsibility for the protection of refugees and other migrants to third countries, such as Morocco. This PhD research examines, from a multidisciplinary perspective, what legal and actual protection exists for forced migrants in Morocco. The research evaluates the extraterritorial responsibility of states under international refugee and human rights law (doctrinal law perspective), examines what migrants themselves seek and understand to be protection, or 'protection consciousness' (socio-legal perspective), and looks at Morocco’s Africa diplomacy regarding asylum and migrants’ rights (critical policy perspective).
Promoter(s): Ellen Desmet
Researcher(s): Ruben Wissing
Faculty / Faculties: Faculty of Law and Criminology
Period of time: 2018 - 2022

Description: My research centers around space, identity, minorities, and mobilities in general. I have specifically written on Muslim minorities in the United States and Europe, minorities in Turkey, and history of geographic thought. I am particularly interested in the role of place in constructing identities, drawing boundaries and maintaining differences. Uneven power relations are at the center of my analysis. I believe that without understanding power relations and the role of place in power struggles, one cannot fully understand the contextuality, contingency and complexity of mobility, space and identity. Discourses produced, policies formed, narratives and memories created reflect complex power relations. The power to define, to draw boundaries, to dominate, to resist, to create and maintain differences is a central issue in mobilities and identities, whether it is immigration or emigration, integration or assimilation, reconciliation or alienation.
Promoter(s): Ilse Derluyn
Researcher(s): Ilhan Kaya
Faculty / Faculties: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
Period of time: 2021 - 2022

Description: This project investigates Turkish, Moroccan and Eastern European minority students' experiences with racism in Flemish society in general and at their school in particular. Moreover, the determinants of ethnic prejudice among Flemish teachers and pupils are examined. More specifically: 1. The association between the ethnic composition of schools, pupils' teachability and the ethnic prejudice of teachers 2. The association between the ethnic composition of schools, the track in which teachers teach, the ethnic prejudice of teachers and their level of involvement with multicultural teaching 3. The association between a multicultural teacher culture and the ethnic prejudice of Flemish secondary school pupils. 4. The association between secure attachment and ethnic prejudice. 5. The association between the gender composition of schools, ‘laddism’ and ethnic prejudice.
Promoter(s): Peter Stevens, Mieke Van Houtte
Researcher(s): Roselien Vervaet
Department / Research group: Department of Sociology
Faculty: Faculty of Political and Social Sciences