University of Stuttgart: New ways for better childcare!

University of Stuttgart: New ways for better childcare!

The University of Stuttgart has repeatedly received the title of “family-friendly university”. This award is not only a confirmation of their efforts, but also a call to further improve the conditions for students with children. In the next three years, the university will place a particular focus on three central topics: child care, information and communication, and appreciation and support.

A central concern of the university is to optimize its existing childcare offerings. These should be consolidated and further developed as needed in order to meet the high demands of students. The municipalities are primarily responsible for child care, while the student union provides specific offers for students.

Diverse care options

The University of Stuttgart offers a range of additional support that makes it easier for families to balance studying and having children. These include, among other things, company daycare places, expanded access to daycare centers and holiday programs. Emergency care, which was set up to cover short-term shortages, for example if regular childcare is canceled, is also particularly relevant. This emergency care is free on two days per semester and is available for children up to the age of twelve.

Emergency care takes place in the Parent-Child Center West (EKiZ) or in the pme Family Service facilities. While the opening hours for EKiZ are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the pme family service offers care options at various locations from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The prerequisite for access to emergency care is that regular care is no longer available due to sudden circumstances, such as the childminder becoming ill.

• Öffnungszeiten EKiZ: Mo-Fr 8:30 bis 17:30 Uhr (Ludwigstraße 41-43)
• Öffnungszeiten Bülowkids: Mo-Fr 8-18 Uhr (Heilbronner Straße 190)
• Öffnungszeiten Schloßkinder: Mo-Fr 8-18 Uhr (Schloßstraße 76)

Appreciation of family needs

Chancellor Anna Steiger emphasizes the importance of reliable child care for equal opportunities. This is crucial for the compatibility of work, study and family. The university plans to expand care options for families, especially for those who are new to the region or whose specific needs are not met by existing offerings.

The university is in line with other renowned institutions, such as the University of Heidelberg, which has had such a certificate since 2010. In 2023, this university successfully renewed its commitment with the “berufundfamilie” certificate. The aim of such programs is to promote a family-friendly academic culture that includes various measures to support students and employees.

With their initiatives, both universities show that the compatibility of family, work and studies is not only a value but also a necessity in today's world. The coming years promise exciting developments in this area, many of which will be family beneficiaries.