Diversity at THU: Diversity enriches our university!
THU is a cosmopolitan University of Applied Sciences and a place for studying, researching, and working together.
In teaching, research and our everyday working lives, we benefit enormously from our students, teachers, and staff. They bring their different linguistic, cultural, personal, and scientific perspectives to the THU, as an open community for knowledge and learning.
Being open to the world also means that Ulm University of Applied Sciences is committed to opposing discrimination, incitement to racial hatred, racism, and sexism. Therefore, as a community of all members of the University of Applied Sciences, we actively champion zero tolerance of discriminatory behavior at our university.
This page gives you the most important information about diversity at Ulm University of Applied Sciences.
(Image source: Freepik)
What does diversity mean?
Diversity comes from the Latin word diversitas. Translated, it means “variety” and “difference”.
The social concept “diversity” relates to diversity among human beings. It says that all people are valuable in their uniqueness, all deserve recognition and respect. People are different to each other due to their varying characteristics; these characteristics are also called dimensions.
Dimensions of diversity
The American scientists Lee Gardenswartz and Anita Rowe developed the concept of the “Four Layers of Diversity”.
At the center of the model is a person’s personality. Directly around it are the “internal dimensions” of diversity.
These are:
- Gender and gender identity
- Age
- Ethnic origin and nationality
- Sexual orientation
- Physical and intellectual abilities
- Religion and worldview
- Social background
The extent to which these characteristics can be changed is very limited. They have the largest influence upon whether people are accepted or marginalized. You can find out more about the dimensions of diversity from, for example, the Charter for Diversity (in German).
Since 2006, the first six of these characteristics are protected in Germany by the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG).
However, the Gardenswartz and Ross model (see the image on, for example, the Vienna University website) also shows that, in the two other layers, there are many other characteristics which contribute to people’s diversity – for example, career experience, marital/parental status, or their position in the hierarchy. People can change the dimensions in the outer two layers themselves.
There is a lot of terminology concerning diversity. For example, do you know what ableism means? Or what the individual letters in LGBTQIA* stand for? You can find the answers in Bonn University’s Glossary.
|
Discrimination
Discrimination means that one or more people are unfairly excluded or disadvantaged due to one or more characteristics, such as gender, age, or social/ethnic background.
Discrimination may be conscious or unconscious. It may be direct – for example, if a person is not invited to a job interview due to their name. Indirect discrimination is more difficult to recognize. For example, if – according to job advertisements – a person must speak fluent, accent-free German, despite this not being necessary to perform the role.
Ulm University of Applied Sciences advocates for diversity and against discrimination.
Diversity at THU
Diversity is part of our mission and part of our Strategy 2033 (flyer in German). Our university is characterized by diversity and tolerance. We integrate individuality, so everyone can benefit from it. We strengthen democratic structures and plurality of opinion.
Charter for Diversity
Ulm University of Applied Sciences signed the Charter for Diversity (in German) in 2023, setting ourselves the task of continuously developing Equality and Diversity at THU.
Overview of contacts at THU
Contacts for Equality and Equal Opportunities
Extensive information about Equality and Equal Opportunities at Ulm University of Applied Sciences can be found at “Equality and Equal Opportunities”.
Contact for people with disabilities
Students
So that students with disabilities or chronic illnesses are not disadvantaged in their studies, Ulm University of Applied Sciences has established the office of Representative for Students with Disabilities. One of the Representative’s tasks is to assert claims for compensation for disability-related disadvantages. The person holding this office is elected by the Senate for a term of four years.
The Representative for Students with Disabilities is currently Prof. Dr. Felix Capanni. You can reach him at Felix.Capanni@thu.de or on 0731 96537-371. Felix Capanni is Deputy Dean of Department T.
Disabled Employees
The Disabled Employees’ Representative at Ulm University of Applied Sciences is responsible for employees with disabilities. This representative is Franz Roth. You can reach him at Franz.Roth@thu.de or on 0731-96537572. He is our Occupational Safety Specialist, Disabled Employees’ Representative, and Fire Protection Officer.
The role of the Disabled Employees’ Representative is to
- help enable people with severe disabilities to take part in working life, and to provide them with support and advice.
- offer opportunities for discussions, to get involved when difficulties arise, and to represent the interests of severely disabled people and people treated as such, regarding measures planned by the University of Applied Sciences.
To facilitate this, Disabled Employees’ Representatives get to know people with severe disabilities and their workplaces. This enables them to recognize potential problems early on, and to keep an overview of the challenges.
AGG Ombudsman
The General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) protects people from discrimination. THU has an AGG Ombudsman. All students, employees and people not affiliated to the THU can submit their formal complaints to this person. THU Chancellor Dr. Christian Elmo Wolff currently holds this office. You can reach him via email at christian.wolff@thu.de.
Important:
• The AGG Ombudsman is duty-bound to react to and deal with complaints. The AGG Ombudsman is your contact if you wish to submit a specific complaint.
• The Staff Committee is available to employees for advice personalrat@thu.de).
• If you have been the victim of discrimination and wish to get some initial advice in order to decide how best to proceed, you can also contact the Equality Team.
Learn more about the AGG and forms of discrimination from the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency.
Contact for victims of sexualized harassment and violence
Ulm University of Applied Sciences will absolutely not tolerate sexualized harassment or violence in any form. THU has issued a guideline on this, which is available on the Intranet: Guideline for dealing with sexual harassment, discrimination and violence (internal document, in German).
The following people are available to talk to for anyone who has suffered sexualized harassment, discrimination, or even violence at our university of applied sciences – or for those who wish to highlight deficits/risks in this area:
• Prof. Barbara Streppel: Barbara.Streppel@thu.de
• Prof. Tim Pietzcker: Tim.Pietzcker@thu.de
All conversations take place in the strictest confidence. Further action will only be taken with the express permission of the affected person.
The procedure for notifications is described in the Guideline for dealing with sexual harassment, discrimination and violence (internal document, in German).
Furthermore, THU is currently working on a concept to protect against sexualized harassment and violence.
Legal counsel (Vertrauensanwältin) (provided by the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts)
A legal counsel (Vertrauensanwältin) is available for questions concerning sexualized discrimination, sexual harassment, and violence. Her legal advice is free of charge. The following link will provide you with more information about the legal advice offered by the Ministry (in German).
Anonymous tool for reporting unlawful behavior / legal violations
Ulm University of Applied Sciences has set up an internal reporting system. Students, employees, and people not affiliated to the THU can use it to notify us, if they have information that our university is behaving unethically or illegally. This includes notifications about the direct actions of THU members (administration, professorial staff, employees, and the THU management), as well as students.
The reporting system provides the opportunity to notify us about infringements of laws and other regulations, as well as about misconduct. It is also possible to report information completely anonymously.
Topics
For example, notifications can be submitted about employment law, harassment/abuse, data protection and cyber security, discrimination, equality, public procurement, or environmental protection.
Intended users
The “Hintbox” tool can be used by anyone who works or studies at THU. Other people may also submit notifications (e.g. employees of companies working for THU, partner organizations, etc.) However, these notifications must relate to THU members / employees.
To the reporting system
The information reported is important and will be taken seriously by THU. Please use the tool to prevent or put a stop to violations.
Alternatively, you can contact one of our internal support centers directly, for example:
|
Raising awareness at THU
Discrimination is often unconscious. Therefore, at THU, we try to raise awareness about this issue among a broader audience.
Currently, the following offers are available:
Anti-bias workshops
Once per semester, the FH-Personal Team (webpage in German) offers a 90-minute workshop, presenting the different types of biases.
If you are interested, please register via email at team.fhpersonal@thu.de.
Moodle course: Unconscious bias
The FH-Personal Team has created a Moodle course (internal link). This explains a variety of biases. It takes around an hour to click your way through the course contents.
Uniform processes in the professorship appointment procedure
Uniform processes and standardization have a significant impact on reducing the effects of unconscious prejudice. Therefore, the FH-Personal Team has standardized the documentation used during the application process. You will find the relevant documents at guideline for the THU professorship appointment procedure (internal link, in German).
Support centers outside THU
Advice in Ulm
- Ulm City Council has compiled a large overview of support centers in and around Ulm, on their “Equal opportunities and diversity” webpage (machine translation available, toggle language in top-right corner).
- ArbeiterKind.de (website in German) encourages schoolchildren whose families have no experience of university so far, to become the first person in their family to study. ArbeiterKind provides valuable tips and support from experienced students and former students. No matter whether you have questions about studying, financing your studies, scholarships, or starting your career – don’t hesitate to send an email to ulm@arbeiterkind.de. At THU, you can also talk to Prof. Dr. Manuela Boin.
Advice throughout Germany
There are numerous support centers available to help you. Here is a small selection of them:
- Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency with information about legal protection from discrimination
- State of Baden-Württemberg Anti-Discrimination Agency (in German) including an overview of counseling centers by postcode
- Weisser Ring (in German): People who require help after being the victim of a crime can contact one of more than 400 support centers throughout the country. They have around 3000 volunteers who have completed special training to qualify as victim support agents. The support is free of charge and, upon request, can be used anonymously.
- Legal info “NERO” and “NERO U21” (in German): NERO is a support center for victims of sexual offences and other violent crimes. Its objectives are to provide victims with information about their rights in an unbureaucratic way, to simplify processes and, if necessary, to refer the victims to other services.
