Shaping Inclusive Minds, Inside and Beyond the Classroom
From lecture hall to workplace — inclusion starts here.
Academia
@Workplace Pride
About the Academia Community
Academia@Workplace Pride drives LGBTIQ+ inclusion across universities and research institutes. You support staff, faculty, and students so they can be themselves and reach their full potential.
Students matter most.
If you shape an inclusive mindset during their studies, they enter the workforce ready to lead with awareness and respect.
Our Mission
- To contribute to academic and research workplaces in which all staff, students and faculty members belong and can be themselves.
- To acknowledge that Academic and Research organisations work differently than other organisations. Leverage this unique starting point to bring us together.
- Academia@WP contributes to the knowledge generation and dissemination, in coordination with the work of the WP Chair, Jojanneke van der Toorn.
Why It Matters
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Universities shape the next generation of leaders
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Research influences policy, culture, and workplace standards
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Students carry inclusive values into every sector
If you change academia, you change the workforce.
The question is simple:
What kind of leaders do you want entering the world tomorrow?
A new research project sheds light on what it takes to build genuinely inclusive workplaces—and why many organisations still fall short. The research was conducted by Dr. Kshitij Mor under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Jojanneke van der Toorn, Professor of LGBT+ Workplace Inclusion and Workplace Pride Chair at Leiden University.
Upcoming Academia Events
SAVE THE DATE | 2026 LGBTIQ+ Workplace Inclusion Symposium
24 November 2026 | 09:00–18:00
Telders Auditorium, Leiden University
Join us for a day celebrating 10 years of the Chair in LGBTIQ+ Workplace Inclusion and the vibrant, growing community of scholars and practitioners advancing research and practice on LGBTIQ+ inclusion at work.
Organized by Prof.dr. Jojanneke van der Toorn in collaboration with Workplace Pride, including Academia@Workplace Pride and POC@Workplace Pride, the symposium will bring together scholars and practitioners to share research, exchange ideas, and explore how research can inform more inclusive workplaces. Parts of the program will also be streamed, making the conversation accessible beyond those attending in person.
The Rainbow Brief
The Rainbow Brief bridges academic research and real-world workplace practice. It translates peer-reviewed studies into clear insights you can apply inside your organisation. Each edition explores one focused topic related to LGBTIQ+ inclusion at work — from SOGI data collection and psychological safety to leadership, bias, identity, and organisational culture.
You face complex questions:
- How do you collect SOGI data responsibly?
- What makes employees feel safe to be out at work?
- How do identity and power shape workplace dynamics?
- How do you sustain inclusion when external pressure increases?
The Rainbow Brief gives you evidence-based answers.
Not theory for theory’s sake.
Research you can use.
Here are the latest Editions
Community Articles
Symposium Recap: Challenging Norms for LGBTIQ+ Inclusion in the Workplace
“For us to solve these deeply culturally entrenched problems, we have to restructure the very idea of what it means to be a professional” – Dr. Erin Cech (University of Michigan) This quote nicely summarises the [...]
Stories from the Heart 2024: Voices of Resilience and Advocacy
Amsterdam, August 2, 2024 – The Rijksmuseum hosted the 6th “Stories from the Heart” event. Organised by Workplace Pride in collaboration with the RVO and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event showcased powerful narratives from LGBTIQ+ activists worldwide. [...]
‘Tech’ and ‘Academia’ @WorkplacePride visit The Green Village – TU Delft
The five designated Workplace Pride Communities regularly host events to connect our members and learn from each other. On Wednesday, 15 February 2023, Tech@WP and Academia@WP combined their efforts in a single event hosted at [...]
Exploring the Role of LGBTIQ+ Employee Resource Groups in Workplace Inclusion
While organisational attention to workplace equality and inclusion has grown, many social groups continue to face disadvantages. LGBTIQ+ employee resource groups (ERGs) are emerging as crucial structures within companies, providing safe spaces for Lesbian, [...]
