Equal Opportunities, Diversity Management & Inclusion

Reutlingen University recognises the importance of gender equality, diversity and inclusion as core tasks of university development. We actively promote equal opportunities, appreciation and participation by offering a wide range of advice and services as well as a variety of support options. A reliable cooperation between all institutions, schools and organisational units is the basis for recognising discrimination, breaking down barriers, promoting educational equality and providing access.

Equal Opportunities
Funding & promotion
Diversity
Services

Equal Opportunities at Reutlingen University

The equality goals of Reutlingen University are defined in the equality plan. This describes the university's development goals in science, administration and among students. In addition to reporting on implemented measures and key figures, the Equality Plan contains specific objectives. A synthesis of the goals can also be found in the Gender Equality Plan.

Professors wanted

The proportion of women in professorships in Baden-Württemberg is only 17 percent. Reutlingen University therefore works closely with the State Conference of Equal Opportunities Officers at Universities of Applied Sciences in Baden-Württemberg (LaKof BW) to recruit more women for responsible and self-determined teaching positions. Among other things, LaKof offers comprehensive qualification programmes, workshops and seminars.

Promoting equality & diversity

Reutlingen University has excellent connections with numerous foundations, initiatives and companies that promote female students in MINT subjects, the qualification of female management personnel and a better work-life balance in academia. Below you will find a selection of available funding opportunities for students and young academics.

Funding options for students

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Funding options for academics

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Diversity

Diversity means the visibility and appreciation of all people, regardless of their origin, identity, sexual orientation, religious affiliation and age. At Reutlingen University, we have developed various concepts to ensure and express this very diversity. Please feel free to click through the offers, cooperations and programmes for more information.

Diversity wheel

We use the "diversity wheel" to represent diversity in the university context. With the help of this guideline, we succeed in representing the greatest possible diversity.

Gender-sensitive language

Gender-sensitive language helps to reduce discrimination, increase the visibility of all genders and enable encounters at eye level.

see the recommendations

Inclusive teaching

We consider diversity in teaching to be essential. In order to make our courses as inclusive as possible, we regularly participate in the Diversity Audit of the Stifterverband.

Diversity-Rad

We encounter diversity in different areas of life. At the university, lecturers, staff and students who differ, for example, in their cultural identity, age or educational background meet. Reutlingen University sees diversity as a valuable resource for all those involved. Fundamental to this are exchange, mutual respect and open-mindedness.

In order to make diversity visible at the university, we have developed a diversity wheel based on a model by Gardenwartz & Rowe. This sees teachers, staff and students as individuals (yellow circle) who meet in the context of the university (grey and white circle). These differ in various dimensions. These include gender diversity and equality, ethnic background and cultural identity, family responsibilities, physical and intellectual abilities, different pathways to higher education, sexual orientation and identity, religion and age (dark blue circle). According to the concept of intersectionality, people can identify with different dimensions, which in turn shape them in their personality.

The dimensions are meant to stimulate an exchange about diversity and a reflection on one's own imprints, thought structures and experiences. They do not claim to be objectively valid.

Diversity-sensitive teaching

Reutlingen University aims to strengthen diversity-sensitive teaching. For this reason, it regularly participates in the "Shaping Diversity" audit of the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft (Donors' Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany). We are convinced that teaching is only effective if it reflects the students' diversity and supports them in developing their full potential.

Training and information offers of the international DAAD Academy (e.g. intercultural competence, diversity, internationalisation)
Toolbox Gender and Diversity in Teaching at the FU Berlin
Practical suggestions for integrating gender aspects into curricula (Netzwerk Frauen- und Geschlechterforschung NRW)
Ingenieruwissenschaftliche Studiengänge attraktiver gestalten. Vorschläge für Hochschule. Heidelberg / Dordrecht / London / New York: Springer (Derboven, Wibke & Winker, Gabriele; 2010)
Brochure trans.inter*.non-binary. Designing teaching and learning spaces at universities in a gender-reflective way (2019) of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna.

Diversity Month

Diversity is a central concern at Reutlingen University. Every year, therefore, Diversity Week takes place, which we will expand to a Diversity Month for the first time in 2023. Numerous lectures and activities highlight the topic of diversity from different perspectives and invite people to reflect on it. The programme is aimed at all interested parties.

Diversity Month at Reutlingen University

This year, for the first time, we used the entire month of May as DIVERSITY MONTH. Various events, in different formats, took place on campus throughout the month.
The program was opened by Dr. Ulrike Baumgärtner (local councilor in Tübingen-Weilheim, district councilor in Tübingen, municipal policy advisor and lecturer on ethics and sustainable development) and Ramazan Selcuk (former member of the state parliament and political science spokesperson for the SPD) with a discussion moderated by Carolien van der Hulst on the topic of "How does diversity shape our future?”. All university members were invited two days later to the workshop "Discover Your Intersectionalities" with Prof. Yoany Beldarrain, PhD, and Prof. Dr. Elizabeth Hofvenschiöld.
At the International Game Night and the Diversity Café in the following weeks, students and other university members learned what games are common and popular in other countries, met new people, and exchanged ideas on diversity topics.
Prof. Dr. Stephan Seiter MdB took time from Berlin to give an online lecture on "Education and Research in the Sign of the Changing Times" and answered numerous questions.
The program concluded with Wolfgang Bauer (reporter for the chief editorial office of DIE ZEIT) and Ahmad Salah (master student INF), who told us about their personal experiences with the topic of flight from conflict zones, and exchanged views on the representation of flight in the media. The conversation was moderated by Hjördis Kettenbach.

Program Diversity Month 2023

Advisory services for students & employees

Extensive (advisory) services supports students in managing their daily study routine in various life situations. The services support students at the beginning and during their studies.