Dear reader,

“True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice.”

In his impassioned plea for social justice and peace, VU Honorary Doctor Dr Martin Luther King Jr. led the way.

What, then, is asked of us? Every individual has the right to develop in freedom, with fair access to knowledge. In theory, this is an admirable ideal. In practice, it proves more complex.(Source) World leaders remain divided and often show little regard for each other’s cultures. Many people face growing insecurity or are forced to flee their homes. Increasing scarcity of energy resources and rising polarisation further deepen social and economic inequalities.

This is why social justice demands ongoing commitment. At Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, we are proud of several impactful initiatives. One recent example is the UNESCO symposium Be the Change, organised under my CCS UNESCO Chair, and made possible by a remarkable, university-wide team. The symposium placed the fight against social inequality front and centre. Through dialogue sessions, workshops, and poster presentations, we explored themes such as mentoring, social justice, and peacebuilding. During the event, we also celebrated the recent inclusion of the VU archive From Kuyper to King in the Dutch UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) Register. (More) This recognition affirms the core values that the VU community has upheld for generations, and how these values are reflected in today’s teaching and research. The legacy of Dr Martin Luther King Jr., who received an honorary doctorate from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 1965, is a powerful example of this.(More) Working with UNESCO on this mission is an honour. At the same time, it is a responsibility. The task ahead is far from complete.

To realise social justice, we must foster more empathetic leadership. Themes such as truly listening to one another, the power of human connection, compassion, caring for others, and servant leadership are essential. These are also key areas of focus for many researchers and lecturers at the VU School of Business and Economics. For instance, the VU Center for Executive Coaching trains coaches who support leaders and teams under pressure. Furthermore, the recently established Leadership Academy brings together professional insights from both academia and wider society. The theme of this edition of Vuurwerk, social justice, is a call to action for students, alumni, and researchers of SBE: to work together towards a future-proof and socially just world.

Kind regards,

Dr. Sylvia van de Bunt

UNESCO Chair Cross-Cultural Sustainability Afdeling Management & Organisatie