On Thursday, September 20, Avin Ghedri received the ECHO Award for Scientific Education from Ingrid van Engelshoven, Minister of Education, Science and Culture. Avin won the award for her ability to turn deep-seated anger into something positive, combining personal vulnerability with the courage to broach uncomfortable topics.

Inclusive Thinking in the Medical Sector

Avin Ghedri received the award for her activities at the medical school and UMC Utrecht, which helped bridge the gap between groups with a Western and non-Western background. Her efforts ranged from successful blogs and education in secondary schools to organising meetings within the Faculty of Medicine. Gönül Dilaver, programme coordinator of Biomedical Sciences, and Berent Prakken, director of Education at the Faculty of Medicine/UMC Utrecht, have nominated Avin for the ECHO Award.

According to the report, the jury was impressed by Avin's ability to turn deep-seated anger into something positive. ‘She has been able to identify problems, make them discussable in a constructive way, and then take concrete steps to rectify them’. One of Avin’s  greatest strengths is her ability at combining vulnerability,  which she shares her own insecurities and dilemmas, and the courage to raise and discuss uncomfortable topics. The jury also appreciated Avin's dual approach to the issue of diversity and inclusion, which she takes action towards both patients and physicians to contribute to inclusive thinking in the medical sector.

Avin has won the opportunity to attend a fully taught summer course at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in the United States. Utrecht University is very proud of this socially committed student and congratulates Avin on her ECHO Award.

Expertise Centre for Diversity Policy

ECHO is a national centre of expertise for diversity policy in higher education. Each year, the centre awards three prizes to students with a non-Western background who make a special contribution towards diversity and inclusion in society. The aim of the ECHO Award is to generate positive attention for the individual successes of students from multicultural backgrounds. Eligible students for an ECHO Award are successful students with a non-Western background who distinguish themselves for their outstanding academic achievements, ground-breaking attitude, bridging qualities, active social involvement, and leadership. This year's nominees include Utrecht students Moska Hellamand and Antoni Barshini for the Bèta Techniek Award and the Loyens & Loeff Law & Tax Award respectively.