Foundation Academy Welcomes Drs. Bianca Gallant as Keynote Speaker

Foundation Academy of Amsterdam is pleased to announce its Graduation Ceremony and Opening of the Academic Year 2026–2027, taking place on 8 September 2026 at 18:00 at the Foundation Academy in Amsterdam.

This year, we have the honor of welcoming Drs. Bianca Gallant, Director of the Netherlands Institute for Studies of Slavery and Emancipation (NINSEE), as our keynote speaker.

Her keynote address, “From Memory to Responsibility: The Role of Education in Building a More Just Society,”speaks directly to the heart of our educational mission. Remembering history is not merely about looking back. It also asks what we do with that memory today, how it shapes education, and how it can help us take responsibility for building societies rooted in justice, dignity, and inclusion.

This theme has particular significance for the Foundation Academy's community. Many of our students come from African countries and the broader Global South, from societies whose histories and present realities have been deeply affected by slavery, colonialism, migration, and continuing forms of inequality. At the Academy, these histories are not treated simply as subjects from the past, but as living realities that invite critical reflection, dialogue, and responsible action.

Since its early years, Foundation Academy has included the study of slavery within its curriculum in its broader historical and contemporary context, including the transatlantic slave trade and modern-day forms of slavery. We therefore consider it especially meaningful to welcome Drs. Gallant, whose work and experience bring together historical memory, education, emancipation, and the continuing pursuit of a more inclusive society.

The evening will also mark an important milestone for nine graduating students in Human Rights and Global Studies. We celebrate their academic achievements, their perseverance, and the contribution we hope they will continue to make in their communities and beyond.

The graduation ceremony will at the same time formally open the 2025–2026 academic year of Foundation Academy of Amsterdam.

We look forward to an inspiring and meaningful evening of celebration, reflection, memory, and hope for the future.

Date: 8 September 2026

Time: Approximately 18:00

Venue: Foundation Academy of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Keynote Speaker: Drs. Bianca Gallant

Keynote: From Memory to Responsibility: The Role of Education in Building a More Just Society