University of Hohenheim is "Diversity-Oriented"  [05.07.23]

The University of Hohenheim sees diversity as an opportunity and actively combats discrimination. It is one of the first two universities in Germany to receive the "audit vielfaltsgerechte hochschule" certificate for its commitment to diversity. This is linked to a concrete action program for the next three years.

Gender and gender identity, family situation, ethnic origin, religion and ideology, age, sexual orientation, physical and mental abilities, or social background: our society is diverse - but do all people have the same opportunities? With its participation in the "audit vielfaltsgerechte hochschule", the University of Hohenheim wants to do just that.

"We are convinced that valuing diversity is indispensable for a democracy. As an educational institution, we see ourselves as having a special responsibility in this regard. At the same time, we see tolerance, respect, and equal opportunities as important success factors for excellent research and teaching as well as for attracting skilled workers," is how university President Prof. Dr. Stephan Dabbert explains the motivation.

Sustainable cultural change as a goal

With the certification, however, the university does not only want to set an outward sign, but above all work on meeting its own demands even better in everyday life. The goal of the development audit is a structured process to identify weaknesses and potentials, to initiate concrete improvement measures and thus to promote a sustainable cultural change.

"We know from our longstanding commitment to gender equality: Disadvantages often have complex causes and cannot be easily eliminated. It is therefore all the more important to take a close look, to proceed systematically and to have staying power. We want to do this within the framework of sustainable diversity management," emphasizes the Gender Equality Representative of the University of Hohenheim, Prof. Dr. Ute Mackenstedt, who is in charge of the audit on behalf of the university.

 

To-do list for the next three years

A basis for this is provided by a program of action that the university developed in the course of the certification. Students and employees of all status groups and faculties as well as the university management and the Equal Opportunities Office, which will be called the "Office for Equality and Diversity" in the future, participated in two preparatory strategy workshops and in-depth discussions.

For the next three years, the university has planned the following measures, among others:

• Creation of a website "Wegweiser Diversität" (Diversity Guide), which helps to better find all relevant contact points and information
• Barrier-free design of the university homepage
• Development of an internal university monitoring system for diversity
• Introduction of a guideline for gender-appropriate language
• Workshops and training sessions to raise awareness among managers
• Adaptation of the children's emergency childcare services and the Hohenheim campus holidays to current needs
• Expansion of the onboarding process with consideration of special problem situations in order to make it easier for new employees to get started
• Cooperation with the Arbeiterkind e.V. association to make it easier for prospective students and students from educationally disadvantaged families to start at the University
• Strengthening the buddy system for foreign students
• Expansion of psychological counselling with a focus on extended target groups
• Developing measures to improve cooperation between older and younger employees

 

A new Senate Committee on Diversity is to accompany the implementation of the measures, work on their further design and set priorities. The commission is to be established as soon as possible.

All areas at the university are called upon to implement the measures in everyday life. The Office for Equality and Diversity is responsible for coordinating diversity management. In the course of a cost-neutral restructuring in the coming years, a diversity officer is to take up the work.

A re-audit is planned in three years. Measures that have been implemented will be reviewed and a new action program will be developed.

 

Background pilot audit

The "audit vielfaltsgerechte hochschule" or "audit berufundvielfalt" will be carried out for the first time in 2023 by berufundfamilie Service GmbH. The Universities of Hohenheim and Paderborn and WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH took part in the pilot process. All three organizations were now the first to be awarded the associated certificate, which has a term of three years.

The audit provides organizations of all shapes and sizes with a holistic process to identify diversity potential and to systematize, steer, and sustainably (further) develop diversity management. The programs are designed as development audits and are intended to serve as a motor for lasting cultural change.

Background: berufundfamilie Service GmbH

berufundfamilie Service GmbH, an initiative of the non-profit Hertie Foundation, is a service provider and think tank in the field of work-life balance. Its central offer is the "audit berufundfamilie" or "audit familiengerechte hochschule". Since 1998, more than 1,900 organizations have been awarded the audit certificate.