New equal opportunities concept at Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences

As a profile-building cross-sectional task, gender equality work at HNU makes a significant contribution to realizing the promotion of diversity and equal opportunities anchored in the university's self-image. In addition to continuing the institutional implementation of equality, the update of the first concept adopted in 2009 now also aims in particular to develop and implement specific equality-promoting measures for individual target groups. The new gender equality concept fulfills the requirements of the Gender Equality Plan (GEP) in the Horizon Europe Framework Program for Research and Innovation (2021-2027), which as of this year is a general requirement for funding research projects under Horizon Europe.

Countering the "leaky pipeline": attracting more women to academic leadership positions

The gender equality concept addresses all groups of university employees in the academic field; however, a special focus is on the orientation, promotion and consolidation of female career paths. The main goal is to counteract the leaky pipeline effect, whereby the proportion of women in science successively declines as the level of qualification increases. Based on a cascade model in which each status group can act as a role model for its successor groups, female founders, mentors and female executives are linked together alongside students, doctoral candidates and professors and thus benefit from targeted support.

About the new equality concept

The new equality concept is available for download at this link (opens in a new window). Prof. Dr. Claudia Kocian-Dirr (opens in a new window) and her team will be happy to answer questions about the goals and measures of the concept.

About the activities of the HNU women's representative

The digital transformation needs the diversity and creative forces of all in study and work. Promoting the digital participation of women is therefore a central concern of the Women's Representative Prof. Dr. Claudia Kocian-Dirr (opens in a new window). Because we are convinced that enthusiasm for the digital transformation can be awakened by role models, we present achievable role models, promote personal and professional development, and create spaces for constructive exchange. Our activities address all academic target groups, from students to lecturers and research assistants to professors. Workshops for schoolgirls complement our measures in order to create the basis for equal-opportunity digital participation at an early stage.