Diversity as a fact, inclusion as an act.
Diversity is important to us – it is an integral part of our university's profile and is therefore also present on campus every day. We see diversity as an opportunity. We can benefit together from an open and constructive approach to diversity, individuality and plurality. Inclusion is a joint task for us as a university. We can all make a contribution to this. But there is also support – i.e. from the Diversity Advisory Board and the Diversity Officer.
The University of Erfurt has updated its existing action plan for implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2025.
Stakeholders
Diversity Advisory Board
The Advisory Board advises the Presidium on fundamental issues relating to diversity and helps to promote a diversity-sensitive institutional culture. This includes, in particular, the creation and maintenance of framework conditions, objectives and opportunities for dealing constructively with diversity, including measures to protect against discrimination. The Advisory Board supports the development and further refinement of the university's diversity strategy and also accompanies the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the University of Erfurt. The Advisory Board shall meet once per semester on a rotational basis. Members are:
- Vice President for Studies and Teaching (Chair): Professor Julia Knop;
- one representative from research and teaching from each faculty: Dr Christine Johannes (Faculty of Education), Professor Katharina Klöcker (Faculty of Catholic Theology), Dr Sabrina Schmidt (Faculty of Philosophy), Professor Anne Nassauer (Faculty of Political Science), N.N. (Max-Weber-Kolleg);
- three representatives from the student body: Leonie Brähne, Joaquin Criales Jimenez, Lotta Lind;
- Diversity Officer: Christian Tischmeyer;
- Equal Opportunity Officer: Dr Theresia Piszcan;
- Inclusion Officer: Nadine Pippus-Wehlisch;
- representative for severely disabled students: Bernhard Becher;
- representative of the International Office: Marion Kraushaar;
- representative body for severely disabled persons for staff: Franziska Gossen;
- Staff Council: Margrit Elsner.
Consulting experts may be called upon.
The term of office begins on 1 May 2025 and is limited to 30 April 2028.
Diversity Officer
The Diversity Officer looks after the interests of all members, family members, doctoral candidates and applicants to the university, in particular the interests of students with a disability, a mental illness or a chronic illness. In consultation with the Equal Opportunities Officer, the Representative for Severely Disabled Students and the Inclusion Officer, he/she is involved in the planning and organisation of teaching, study and working conditions for members of the university, advises them and works towards the elimination of existing disadvantages and barriers. He/she has the right to participate, apply and speak in all committees of the university's self-administration and works in close connection with the University of Erfurt's Diversity Advisory Board.
The Diversity Officer of the University of Erfurt is Christian Tischmeyer. The Senate elected him in June 2024 on the proposal of the President for a term of office of three years.
Statements
The University of Erfurt sees itself as cosmopolitan. People as they are, with different social backgrounds and educational biographies, in different life situations, with chronic illness and illness and disability or healthy, with family responsibilities, with diverse gender and sexual identities, different skin colours, different migration histories, different nationalities and ethnic affiliations, religions, world views and a multitude of other differentiating characteristics – they should all feel welcome at the University of Erfurt and see it as a place that they can help to shape and develop.“ (excerpt from our diversity strategy)
All members and affiliates of the university endeavour to serve the peaceful coexistence of mankind through research, teaching and study. They are aware of their responsibility towards society, they deal with the possible consequences of the dissemination and utilisation of their research results.“ (§ 6 para. 4 sentences 1–2 of the University‘s Basic Regulations)
The University of Erfurt sees itself as an open-minded employer that values diversity. It is committed to diversity and gender equality and welcomes applications that contribute to this. The University of Erfurt has successfully completed the ‚Shaping Diversity‘ audit, has been audited as a ‚family-friendly university‘ and has been awarded the title of ‚Equality Excellent‘ in the female professors programme.“
„The universities have self-determined civil clauses that are based on moral and ethical standards. For this they are aware of their responsibility towards society. They consider the possible consequences of disseminating and utilising their research results, in particular any use that could endanger the peaceful coexistence of people; the results must be published.“ (§ 5 para. 3 Thuringian Higher Education Act)
The universities are guided by the spirit of freedom in responsibility for social justice, peace, preservation and improvement of living and environmental conditions and observe the principles of sustainable development, in particular consideration of the sustainability strategy of the Thuringian state. In accordance with their mission, they serve the cultivation and development of the sciences and the arts through research, teaching, studies and further education in a liberal, democratic and social constitutional state.“ (§ 5 para. 1 sentences 1–2 Thuringian Higher Education Act)
The personality of each individual, respect for each person and consideration of their dignity are of central importance to the
University of Erfurt. Therefore, no person may be disadvantaged within university life at the University of Erfurt on the basis of their gender, ethnic or social origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or identity, religion, ideology or political views. Behaviour that respects the personality of others is valued. Behaviour that hurts others must be refrained from.“
These statements are also available as poster versions in German and English.
Living and promoting diversity at the University of Erfurt (Part 1)
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Living and promoting diversity at the University of Erfurt (Part 2)
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Questions, concerns, suggestions?
Do you have a concern that you would like to discuss in person? Please feel free to contact us, the door is open.
" [...] they should all [people as they are] feel welcome at the University of Erfurt and see it as a place that they can help to shape and develop." (excerpt from the diversity strategy)
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