Diversity Day in Bamberg: Academics from working-class families in focus for the first time!

Diversity Day in Bamberg: Academics from working-class families in focus for the first time!

An important event is coming up at the University of Bamberg on May 20, 2025: Diversity Day on May 27, 2025 is dedicated to the topic “Being the first in the family at the university”. This event is specifically aimed at children of non-academic parents, who are often referred to as “first generation academics” or “working class children”. The university would like to address both university members and interested people with lectures and workshops and draw attention to the special challenges faced by this target group.

The program includes various keynote speeches. Prof. Dr. Marcel Helbig from the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi) will speak about “educational inequality in Germany”, while Dr. Martina Kübler from the organization ArbeiterKind.de will address the hurdles that first-generation students face at universities. A panel discussion with Bamberg's first-time academics will also offer the opportunity to share and discuss personal experiences.

Insights into educational inequality

In the context of Diversity Day, it becomes clear that educational inequality in Germany is a complex problem. According to an analysis of the national report Education in Germany 2022, young people's decision to start studying depends heavily on their social background. While 78% of academic children start studying, only 25% of children from non-academic parents do so. This inequality highlights the urgent need to create structures that make higher education easier for everyone.

It is particularly worrying that, despite the academization of society, children from non-academic families hardly benefit from these improved opportunities. The transition from school to university is often extremely difficult for this group. Differences in school-leaving grades explain only 15% of the different propensity to study between academic and non-academic families. Educational biographies and family resources play a crucial role in this inequality.

Challenges for first-time graduates

First-generation students face a variety of hurdles. They often lack economic, cultural and social capital. This deficit manifests itself in less access to financial support and a feeling of alienation in the academic world. Particularly problematic is the widespread lack of knowledge about options for financing studies, which leads many first-time graduates into financial difficulties.

In addition, many of these students are forced to work alongside their studies in order to secure their livelihood. This often leads to extended study periods and the choice of courses that do not necessarily match one's own interests, but are geared towards high job security. The lack of a network in the academic world makes starting a career and salary negotiations even more difficult.

The Diversity Day in Bamberg is intended to contribute to strengthening the topic of “First Generation Academics” at the university in the long term. The university offers tailor-made support, especially with regard to the development of networks for Bamberg university members who are the first in their family to study or do a doctorate.

Consultation hours with course leaders and professors are available for anyone interested. These opportunities can be used to clarify questions or build a positive relationship with teachers. This is particularly important if you are planning a thesis or considering further studies.

With the variety of events for Diversity Day as well as the planned online lectures, including a public lecture by Dr. Isabell Lisberg-Haag on the topics of “origin, university and habitus”, the University of Bamberg lives up to its responsibility to address educational inequalities and develop solutions. The online lecture series of the LIfBi Lectures on June 3, 2025 will also make a valuable contribution.

For further information, interested parties can contact Prof. Dr. Contact Sabine Vogt at vp.div-int(at)uni-bamberg.de.

In view of the current challenges, it is clear that universities and politics are called upon to reduce the hurdles in the education system and thus promote equal opportunities. Sustainable improvement can only be achieved through joint efforts.