Understanding diversity discomfort in higher education: from barrier to resource for inclusion

In our everyday encounters at higher education institutions in the Netherlands, we observe that diversity discomfort can severely hamper the creation of inclusive environments. Illustrated by examples from our own institutions, we show that the unease arising from engaging with different perspectives can lead to the reproduction of existing hierarchies. We argue for the need to convert diversity discomfort from a barrier to equity into a catalyst for awareness and change, drawing upon literature focusing on power relations and learning theories, including concepts such as safe and brave space and pedagogy of discomfort. While doing so, we present some strategies and formulate a new research agenda on how to transform diversity discomfort into a resource to create future-proof, meaningful, equitable higher education