On Tuesday 23 June 2026, the Rotterdam Inclusivity Project Thesis Hub Event took place at Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR). During this gathering, master’s students presented their thesis research to the Municipality of Rotterdam, Anti-Discrimination Bureau RADAR, Erasmus students and representatives of civil society organisations and foundations such as the OpenEyesFoundation. The afternoon was dedicated to connecting research with policy and practice, in order to contribute to a more inclusive Rotterdam.

As a meaningful component of the Rotterdam Inclusivity Project, this Thesis Hub is an initiative in which master’s students from the EUR conduct thesis research on issues related to discrimination, diversity and inclusion within the Rotterdam Inclusivity Project. The Thesis Hub connects students throughout their thesis process with researchers, policymakers and civil society organisations, enabling scientific insights to be directly linked to practice. The theses therefore not only generate new knowledge, but also produce recommendations with societal impact.

From research to societal impact

Following an opening by Peter Scholten (project leader), two thesis presentations formed the starting point for a broader discussion. Unlike a traditional thesis defence, the emphasis was not solely on scientific results. The students presented not only their research design and key findings, but also what these insights mean for municipal policy, anti-discrimination services, social work and the residents of Rotterdam. Together we discussed the implications of these findings, which gave rise to a valuable interplay between knowledge and the day-to-day practice and reality of professionals working on inclusion and equal treatment.

Two studies on pressing social issues

Master’s student Nindjiou Kassogué presented her research on how ethnically diverse and (perceived) Muslim residents of Rotterdam experience the boundary between everyday and reportable discrimination. Based on in-depth interviews, her research shows that experiences of discrimination are often not immediately recognised as such, but gradually gain meaning through doubt, repetition and the discussion of these experiences in social circles. This gives rise to what she describes as an interpretation gap: a mismatch between the formal, institutional way in which discrimination is defined and the way residents of Rotterdam experience, interpret and discuss discrimination in everyday life. The findings suggest that the solution to the well-known reporting gap therefore does not lie exclusively in better reporting procedures, but also in greater societal and political recognition, administrative support and the initiation of dialogue before people have even labelled their experience as discrimination or reached out to a reporting centre.

In the reflection, the discussants highlighted how these insights connect to practice. City Warden Ton van der Leck advocated for greater attention to everyday experiences of discrimination as a starting point for strengthening social cohesion. In a superdiverse Rotterdam, he argued, attention must remain on ‘two-way integration’. Bauke Fiere (research coordinator at Anti-Discrimination Bureau RADAR) emphasised the importance of communicating more clearly to people about what kind of support anti-discrimination services can offer. Denise Zending (policy advisor Inclusive Living) pointed to the value of the social negotiation of discrimination, such as the conversations in which experiences of discrimination are either validated or minimised.

Master’s student Sophie Tuik then presented her research on how street harassment is framed within Rotterdam politics. Based on an analysis of 82 election manifestos, news articles and social media posts, she shows that street harassment is not approached exclusively as a gender-related issue, but is also regularly linked to themes such as immigration, integration and public safety. As a result, the focus shifts from street harassment as a form of gender-related violence to broader debates about culture and background. The research shows that political framing not only influences policy choices, but also determines which causes are emphasised and which groups are positioned as the problem or as victims.

In the subsequent discussion, Denise Zending placed these findings in a broader historical context. She noted that the connection between social issues, background and integration has recurred in political debate ever since the arrival of the first migrant workers, regardless of the specific groups in question at any given time. Maria Schiller pointed to the importance of further research into how this political framing has developed over the (election) years. It was also discussed how the research findings could be used to engage municipal politicians in a conversation about the influence of political framing on policy and public perception.

A broader perspective on inclusivity in Rotterdam

In addition to the plenary presentations, reflection was also given to the thesis studies of three other students from the Thesis Hub. Their studies show how broad and varied the theme of inclusivity can be approached.

• Sophie Harweg examined the implementation of European anti-discrimination directives in both Malmö and Rotterdam. For example, Rotterdam can learn from Malmö’s working capacity, where they employ their own lawyers who bring cases before the courts.
• Floor de Haas examined the meaning of self-reliance in the civic integration of recognised refugees, researching within civil society organisations and foundations. A striking outcome of her research is that social workers fall back on the term ‘collective resilience’. When recognised refugees are faced with multiple challenges at once — such as learning a new language, starting a new job or working towards family reunification — “you always need other people” to help you along.
• Finally, Veerle Berk conducted engaged research at Huize Middelland, a community centre organised and run by local residents, into the collaboration between resident initiatives and the municipality around social welfare. The effect of a bottom-up community initiative gives rise to a strong (informal) social neighbourhood network, allowing people to find their ‘own space’ and feel ‘at home’ in the neighbourhood.

Together, these thesis studies offer a multifaceted picture of the challenges and opportunities for a more inclusive Rotterdam. In the interrelation of these theses, a broader picture of inclusivity in Rotterdam emerges. The studies show that themes such as discrimination, political framing, self-reliance, social cohesion and anti-discrimination policy are not separate from one another, but continuously influence each other.

Working together towards the next step

The discussions prompted by these thesis studies showed that they not only yield new insights, but also raise concrete follow-up questions. Central to these was the question of how this knowledge can be translated into concrete actions in Rotterdam.

• How do we translate this knowledge into policy that genuinely connects with the everyday realities of Rotterdam’s residents?
• How do we ensure that existing knowledge about discrimination does not sit on the shelf, but leads to actionable change?

It was emphasised that the next step lies not only in actively naming discrimination, but also in actively strengthening inclusion, social acceptance and community living within Rotterdam’s neighbourhoods. The connection between residents, policy and science was seen as an important precondition for lasting change.

Research as a driver of change

This event clearly shows that a thesis study can be more than an academic final assignment. By enabling students to collaborate with municipalities, civil society organisations and other practice partners, knowledge is generated that can directly contribute to policy development and societal change.

It is precisely this interplay between science, policy, practice and the lived experiences of Rotterdam’s residents that forms the strength of the Rotterdam Inclusivity Thesis Hub.

That strength lies partly in the interconnection between the studies: although each thesis centres on a different issue, together they show how residents’ experiences, policy choices, political discourses and local collaboration mutually influence one another in shaping a more inclusive Rotterdam.

The theses thereby underline that complex social challenges require collaboration, dialogue and research that is embedded in society.

In doing so, the Thesis Hub not only generates new insights, but also contributes to a city in which inclusion and equal treatment are continuously strengthened.