“I feel super comfortable at UM. I have noticed that I am motivated to express myself and to be critical,” says the second-year student of European Studies Alice Mazzetti (half Italian/ half Swedish, 19) right away. She got this impression right at the start of her classes at UM. “The teachers, the tutors, the system itself – they are trying to create a safe and open-minded space. Perhaps it is because we are all adults who respect each other. I also must add that I have never encountered a situation of power struggle from our tutors or professors, which is kind of usual in other countries. Here it is more about having an equal dialogue”.
Mazzetti believes that a diverse and inclusive environment represents a fundamental aspect of all human lives, especially in current times. In this digital age, the younger generations have become more conscious about the importance of a diverse and inclusive environment at school, she believes. In comparison to previous generations, they may feel more empowered to demand more regarding this matter. They are not willing to tolerate any forms of discrimination.
The courses are the ones that manifest diversity and inclusion the most. “I can talk only on behalf of the European Studies programme, but I think that our courses are showing us the world from different perspectives. It is no longer about the one and only traditional point of view and by that, I mean the Western male-centred narrative. UM is trying to broaden the scope as much as it can”.
However, Mazzetti states that there is always space for improvement, especially when we talk about involvement. Usually, when students receive a call for an evaluation of the studies or course, it is done in a very impersonal way. Teachers tend to send general emails with evaluation forms, addressing all the students from the course. “It is too distant and cold. Such evaluations are quite important; therefore, the UM staff should find a way to make us feel more involved.”
Natalia Rubio