Research

Professor dr. Koen Van Laer

The work of Prof. dr. Van Laer focuses on diversity in general and on ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and religion in specific. He is particularly interested in the way workplace experiences and careers are connected to inequalities, the way ‘difference’ is managed and constructed in organizations, and the way privileges and specific conceptions of ‘normality’ are reproduced in the workplace. Through his work, he aims to contribute to inclusive organizations, labour markets and societies.

Prof. dr. Eline Jammaers

The research of Prof. dr. Jammaers investigates the Othering processes related to diversity of gender, dis/ability and animals in the waged workplace and in the context of self-employment. Using a post-structuralist lens, she aims to deconstruct unhelpful taken-for-granted binaries in organizational thinking of agency/structure, body/mind and human/non-human. The broader aim of her research is to question dominant power relations and reflect on more egalitarian workplace alternatives.

drs. Jannes Zwaenepoel, promotor: prof. dr. Patrizia Zanoni 

The research of drs. Zwaenepoel investigates how advanced computer algorithms (also machine-learning algorithms) affect the relationships between people. In his doctoral research he employs sociomaterial theory allowing us to rethink our relationship to technology. He is currently working on research on how labour market actors use this novel technology to reshape how people work.

drs. Sandra Bogaers, promotor: prof. dr. Koen Van Laer

Drs. Sandra Bogaers investigates the role of racio-ethnicity, disability and sexual orientation in the work environment. Through a postcolonial perspective, she exposes the processes that cause structural inequality in the workplace, including (subtle) discrimination, dehumanization and othering. By understanding how these (historical) power relations are established in the working environment, drs. Bogaers wants to help build a more proportionate and equal working environment.

dr. Hannelore Van den Abeele - Postdoctoral Researcher at SEIN

The doctoral research of dr. Van den Abeele was about careers in creative industries. Her research focuses on how materiality (objects, documents, spaces) matters in organising and organisations and uses concepts from Actor-Network-Theory to understand these processes.

Research interests: work and occupations, creative industries, visual arts, materiality, qualitative research methods

drs. Tim Gielens, promotor: prof. dr. Koen Van Laer

The research of drs. Tim Gielens is centered on the intersection between people, organizations and society. His PhD aims to explore the potential of a sustainability approach to Human Resources Management in the context of contemporary labor market dynamics.

INSPIRE is Europe's Centre of Excellence on inclusive gender equality in research and innovation. It brings together cutting-edge knowledge, ambitious policy approaches, and innovative practices to provide a gateway for scholars, equality experts, practitioners and trainers to connect and share resources, as well as co-create new ones. Its ambitious research programme develops new, relevant indicators for inclusive Gender Equality Plan (GEP) development, conducts a GEP monitoring survey throughout Europe whilst identifies the conditions necessary for GEP impact. It fills key knowledge gaps on intersectionality, whilst building up the evidence base on promising practices in gendered regional innovation policy. To reduce disparities across Member States and strengthen the European Research Area (ERA), it will use a distributed approach and spread knowledge, know-how and new opportunities for more open and inclusive research and innovation across Europe. The main goal is to strengthen the evidence base for informed policymaking by taking a practice-based approach and meaningfully engaging decision-makers in policy and R&I funding for shaping a more inclusive future

INSPIRE counts on 4 Knowledge & Support Hubs (KSHs) led by academics and practitioners throughout Europe to develop cutting edge knowledge on sustaining change, widening participation, intersectionality and fostering innovation and change in the private sector. These KSHs will provide support to 12 communities of practice to facilitate GEP implementation and foster mutual support for the co-development of innovative practices, customised training and pan-European data collection. The University of Hasselt will look at how organizations in research and innovation can move from GEPs and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) interventions to inclusive intersectional GEPs fostering change towards equality.

Researchers: Prof. dr. Patrizia Zanoni, prof. dr. Koen Van Laer & PhD student Joanna Beeckmans

Funded by the European Commission, Horizon Europe

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