First in Flanders: research on the ethnic gap in higher education

At the start of the new academic year, the FWO SBO Engine project is launching its website — and with it, the first large-scale study in Flanders to systematically map the ethnic gap in higher education. The project, officially titled Tackling the EthNic Gap IN Higher Education, is a collaboration between VUB, KU Leuven, and UHasselt, and aims not only to uncover the structural causes of inequality but also to offer concrete solutions.

“Today, fifty percent of young people in Flanders have a migration background, yet only one in seven enrolls at university,” says VUB professor Ilke Adam, the project’s lead researcher. “Our neighboring countries perform somewhat better, but the challenge remains significant. The problem doesn’t lie with individuals — it’s structural.”

One of the most striking findings is the low retention and success rate: students with a migration background are up to fifty percent less likely to pass their first year. According to project coordinator Dr. Amal Miri, this has nothing to do with intellectual ability but rather with the lack of an inclusive learning environment. “Students need to feel that they belong. Discrimination and a one-dimensional curriculum push them away instead of drawing them in.”

The research will run for three more years and survey 3,000 students. Based on the collected data, the team will develop a ‘Close the Gap’ toolkit containing policy recommendations, training materials, and good practices for educational institutions. “The attitude of professors, teaching methods, and curricula can all become more inclusive,” says Adam. “Science is not exclusively Western. Recognizing that helps not only students of color but society as a whole.”

The Engine project takes a participatory approach: students with a migration background are not only subjects but also co-researchers. “Their lived experience is invaluable,” emphasizes UHasselt doctoral researcher Bengisu Girenizli. “They experience the education system every day. By combining their insights with academic knowledge, we can find stronger, more sustainable solutions.”

Funded by the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO), this pioneering project marks a milestone in the pursuit of a fairer and more inclusive higher education system in Flanders.

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