Equal opportunities in science: KU promotes women's power with mentoring!

Equal opportunities in science: KU promotes women's power with mentoring!

On October 16, 2025, an important anniversary was celebrated at the Catholic University (KU): The mentoring program to support young female scientists. Gabriele Gien, the president of the KU, plays a central role as patron of the program. She presented certificates to twelve participants in the fourth year while together with Prof. Dr. Kathrin Schlemmer, the KU's women's and equal opportunities officer, welcomed seven new mentees. The mentoring program aims to improve equal opportunities in science and promote the success of women, which was underlined by the lively participation at the event.

Following the awarding of certificates, a networking event took place that intensified the exchange between the participants. In addition, young female scientists at the KU can take advantage of individual coaching. This coaching includes five individual sessions with a trained coach in which personal challenges, career planning and goal tests are discussed. An additional scholarship program is aimed at talented young female scientists without existing employment relationships or financial support. This scholarship is awarded for 12 months and is intended to support excellent doctoral or habilitation work.

Financing and equality

The measures are mainly financed by the Female Professors Program, a joint federal and state project that is committed to promoting gender equality in the science system. According to current statistics, the proportion of women in mid-level academic positions at the KU will be around 58 percent at the end of 2024. Particularly noteworthy is the proportion of women in the professoriate, which at 38 percent is above the Bavarian average, while the national average is only 29 percent. These figures illustrate the progress that has been made in recent years.

In Germany, women are well-educated, but their share of universities declines the higher they climb the academic career ladder – a phenomenon often referred to as the “leaky pipeline”. The proportion of women at various academic career stages is currently: 46 percent of doctoral students, 36 percent of postdoctoral candidates and 29 percent of professors. The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) is actively pursuing the goal of counteracting this “leaky pipeline” and promoting equality in science.

• Frauenanteile nach akademischer Laufbahn:
• Doktorandinnen: 46%
• Habilitandinnen: 36%
• Professorinnen: 29%

A central instrument of the BMFTR to promote equality are the professor programs, which started their fourth program phase in 2023 with a funding volume of 320 million euros. These programs follow a cascade model, which is intended to ensure that the proportion of women at each career level is at least equal to that of the previous level.

Diversity in research

Diversity in science and research is crucial for international competitiveness. The BMFTR is therefore supporting the “Diversity at German Universities” initiative, which runs from 2022 to 2024. A particular focus of the funding program is on the visibility of women in science and innovation. To this end, specific projects are initiated that strengthen equal opportunities and visibility for women.

In addition, the proportion of women among Nobel Prize winners from 1901 to 2023 is only 6.7 percent (65 women among 970 prize winners) and in the MINT area (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, technology) in 2022 it is just 32.4 percent for students and 7.6 percent for patent applications. In order to counteract these grievances, the BMFTR also advocates for measures to increase the representation of women in MINT subjects.

The KU mentoring program and the parallel initiatives of the BMFTR and German universities are step by step important components in promoting gender balance in science and ensuring high standards in research and teaching in the long term.