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Women's power at universities: New team for equality and security!
Dr. Heidrun Jander welcomes new equal opportunities representatives at the University of Rostock and promotes equality through training and surveys.
Women's power at universities: New team for equality and security!
On June 16, 2025, a significant step was taken in equality work at the University of Rostock. Dr. Heidrun Jander, the university's equal opportunities officer, welcomed the newly elected faculty representatives of the equal opportunities officers. Four women were also dismissed from their positions during a celebratory ceremony. This change marks a new phase in the implementation of equality strategies at the university.
A significant innovation is the election of eight deputies for the first time, who, together with eight faculty representatives, are responsible for equality work. Dr. Jander expressed her joy about the expansion of the team of gender equality actors. “This diversification will help us address specific gender equality issues more effectively,” she emphasized.
Training and surveys planned
In order to prepare the newly elected representatives for their tasks, training courses were organized in collaboration with the specialist advice center against sexualized violence in Rostock and the German University Association. The equality team has many tasks, including supporting the process of filling professorships and advising members of the university on equality-related issues.
Dr. Jander and Dr. Uta Ziegler is preparing a comprehensive university-wide survey on sexual discrimination, harassment, violence, abuse of power and bullying. This survey is scheduled to start in mid-November and will be accompanied by a series of events designed to inform the university community and raise awareness of these issues.
Strategies against discrimination
Since 1999, the university has established procedural principles for implementing the “Guidelines for Protection Against Sexual Discrimination, Harassment and Violence”. Loud TU Berlin Complaints are treated confidentially and received by various responsible persons. These include, among others, women's representatives, members of the staff councils and supervisors of those affected. Anonymous submission of complaints is encouraged.
The aim of implementing these measures is to create a safe environment in which those affected can feel expressed. The responsible authorities will immediately examine the need for measures and inform the complainants about the current status of the procedure.
Women in science
Despite these advances, the underrepresentation of women at higher qualification levels in the German science system remains a central issue. Women make up half of first-year students, students and university graduates, but their share of professorships is only around 26 percent. This discrepancy is reinforced by various factors, such as temporal collisions between academic qualifications and starting a family as well as a lack of individual support relationships HRK analyzed.
Over the years, the University Rectors' Conference has decided on several measures to promote equality in science. These include the recommendations for increasing the visibility of women in management positions and the decision to commit German universities to greater gender equality in appointments.
The upcoming university-wide survey at the University of Rostock as well as the existing structures to combat discrimination are important steps towards making visible and addressing the challenges that women face in science.