Debuut

If you grow up in a family in which other family members have studied, you tend to hear many different stories about the university. If your family members haven't progressed into higher education, on the other hand, you sometimes lack this information.

Pupils who are the first in their family to attend university are introduced to students and the university.

Perhaps you aren’t familiar with the university at all and don't really know what goes on there, or perhaps you think that university is probably not for you.

In this way, the pupils will gain a role model and a bigger picture of the university. Not because they have to attend university at all costs, but just to show them the possibilities. After all, you certainly won't want to become what you don't know!

In previous school years, Debuut was a buddy program: we matched students with pupils, together they spent six months together getting to know Utrecht University. In the 2021-2022 school year, we will adapt to the current situation and organise Debuut in a different way.

Debuut Live

Since school year 2020-2021, we have been working together with UGO - Equal Educational Opportunities (formerly BSA). This online platform offers pupils in grades 6, 7, 8 and in the bridging class extra support in strengthening their language skills. These children receive additional education within different themes to work on their language development and knowledge of the world.

For each of these themes, we record a introduction video with a researcher who is also doing research within a theme. The scientists and students often have a migration background, to give the children a mirror. After watching the video, the children can send in questions, which the researcher answers in short videos (also known as vlogs). These videos can be found on the online platform of UGO.

Inclusion & diversity

Utrecht University also organises other diversity-related initiatives. More information is available on the website of the Diversity Task Force.

Would you like to know more?

We would be happy to tell you more about our experiences with Debuut and the other programmes offered by the Wetenschapsknooppunt (Science Hub). You can find our contact details here.