Diversity Day

Together against anti-black racism

This year, the University of Siegen is once again taking part in the nationwide 13th German Diversity Day (May 27) with a theme day. Under the motto #AntiBlackRacism, we are setting an example for diversity and jointly developing support structures against anti-Black racism at the University of Siegen.

Universities are not only places of education, but also social spaces in which power relations, discrimination and inequalities can be reproduced or broken. They are therefore not free of racist structures and practices. Racism in the university context manifests itself on both an individual and institutional level - e.g. in the form of discriminatory comments, unequal access opportunities or a lack of representation of marginalized groups. Black students and people of color (BIPOC) in particular report microaggressions in seminars, racist attributions by teaching staff and a constant feeling of being different. Structurally, racism is reflected in a Eurocentric curriculum, selection procedures and the underrepresentation of non-white academics in teaching and research. This means that racism is present, for example, in procedural rules and everyday routines, even if people do not want to be or act racist.

Studies such as the Afrozensus 2020
or surveys by the European Fundamental Rights Agency clearly show that many people of African origin in Germany also regularly experience discrimination in education. This not only affects individual well-being through increased stress, dissatisfaction and psychological stress such as anxiety and depression, but also academic success, educational equity and academic quality. Black, African and Afro-diasporic teachers are also confronted with racism, both from students and within the teaching staff. These experiences often lead to isolation and professional disadvantage.

This is precisely where we come in and ask:

How does anti-Black racism manifest itself in the university context? What experiences do those affected have and what can each individual and the institution as a whole do to create an environment that is sensitive to discrimination and structures that are critical of racism? What next steps need to be taken at the University of Siegen in particular in order to translate the findings into concrete support services and measures?

We want to explore these and other questions together on Diversity Day in an interactive format on the key topic of #AntiBlackRacism. After all, a university that is critical of racism is not only fairer - it is also more sustainable, innovative and attractive for everyone!

With expert input from the experts Josephine Apraku (keynote), Dr.' Nathalie Eleyth (University of Bochum) and Dr.' Rahab Njeri (University of Cologne), space for intensive exchange and concrete opportunities for action, we would like to encourage students, lecturers and staff to reflect and change.

In addition to the Diversity Policies Officer, the content and organization of this year's Diversity Day will mainly be carried out by three committed lecturers from the University of Siegen: Marie Ofori, Jasmin Mouissi and Emmanuel Ndahayo. They organized a kick-off event in February 2025, at which interested colleagues and central contact persons exchanged ideas on the topic for the first time. On the occasion of Diversity Day, all university members and external guests are now to be made aware of the topic (see program below). As this is a continuing education program, university employees are permitted to attend the presentations during working hours after consultation with their respective supervisors, provided that this does not conflict with any work-related interests.

We look forward to welcoming many interested guests and to a fruitful exchange!

Katharina Miketta (Diversity Policies Officer)

Program

10:00: Welcome

10:20: Confronting anti-black racism in the university context (keynote) | Josephine Apraku

11:20: Critique of racism at the university - experiences and impulses | Dr.' Nathalie Eleyth | Ruhr University Bochum

Short break

12:00: Afrocensus

12:30: Let's talk about criticism of racism in the university context |Dr.' Rahab Njeri | University of Cologne

Short break

13:10: Discussion: What's next at the University of Siegen?

The University of Siegen raises its voice against discrimination and abuse of power

This year, the University of Siegen is once again taking part in the nationwide 12th German Diversity Day (May 28) with a series of events, once again raising its voice against discrimination and abuse of power in the university context under the motto #WirSindAnti.

The planned series of events is another important step in the university-wide #WirSindAnti campaign launched in 2023, with which the University of Siegen is speaking out against all forms of discrimination and group-based misanthropy. While last year, students' experiences of discrimination were made visible by means of an anonymous digital survey, this year the campaign is being expanded to include the additional topic of abuse of power in the university context. The campaign is part of a larger context of establishing systematic protection against discrimination and abuse of power at the University of Siegen.

Abuse of power at universities is based on the exploitation of structurally established (professorial) privileges of financial security, decision-making power and knowledge hierarchies. This can take many forms, e.g. humiliation or humiliation in events, targeted overloading of employees, bullying, stalking and physical, sometimes sexualized violence in the academic setting. Abuse of power is closely linked to various forms of discrimination because science and teaching are still characterized by patriarchal and white perspectives. The academic world, with its hierarchies, precarious working conditions and dependencies, is therefore particularly susceptible to abuse of power. This has recently become clear through the increased publicity given to several cases of abuse of power at German universities in the press (e.g. HU Berlin taz, Uni Erfurt taz, Uni Göttingen taz, Uni Köln FuL, Hochschule Gelsenkirchen wa, Tatort Uni ZDF). This covers a spectrum of issues ranging from suspected sexual assault and allegations of discrimination to reports of appropriation of authorship or the assignment of unrelated tasks. It also shows that abuse of power in academia is not exclusively a matter of individual misconduct, but rather a structural problem inherent in the system. As these well-known cases illustrate, abuse of power and discrimination have far-reaching consequences for those affected. Coping with such experiences takes time and a lot of energy, which further exacerbates the disadvantage. In the worst case, the university is left or the academic career is abandoned.

In a joint declaration by the state rectors' conferences last year, the universities in NRW responded to the issue and condemned any form of abuse of power in the strongest possible terms. They are committed to resolutely investigating any evidence of this and to consistently punishing such incidents. Among other things, the voluntary commitment stipulates that the universities raise awareness of the issue among their members and create opportunities to provide information, advice and further training.

This is precisely where the #WirSindAnti - ANTI Discrimination and Abuse of Power event series comes in. A total of four lectures by relevant experts in this field will open up the university-wide discourse. The aim is to sensitize all university members to the topic and create broad awareness. After each presentation, there will be space for questions and discussion with the speakers. What can victims or witnesses do in cases of conflict and who can they turn to? What additional services, counseling structures and structural changes are needed in the academic system? What sanctions are available and what preventative measures can universities take to prevent cases of discrimination and abuse of power?

This year, the Diversity Days are being organized by the Diversity Policies Officer and the Diversity Culture in Human Resources Development working group. As this is a continuing education program, university employees are permitted to attend the lectures during working hours after consulting their respective supervisors, provided that this does not conflict with any official interests. We look forward to welcoming many interested guests and to a profitable exchange!

Prof.' Dr.' Petra M. Vogel (Prorector for Students and Junior Faculty, Diversity and International Affairs), Katharina Miketta (Diversity Policies Officer) and the Diversity Culture in Human Resources Development Working Group

Here you will find the program, Webex access, further information and the opportunity to exchange ideas: Task Cards & Co.

Program booklet

Program EN

Program poster

Diversity Day 2023 on the topic of anti-discrimination in the university context

(10.05.2023) It's that time again on May 23. The University of Siegen is once again flying the flag for diversity in 2023 and is taking part in the 11th German Diversity Day.

With the campaign #WirSindAnti - ANTI-Diskriminierung, the University of Siegen is helping to raise awareness of the topic of (anti-)discrimination in the university context this year and to send a visible signal against discrimination and group-related misanthropy.

The campaign, which aims to make students' experiences of discrimination visible and communicate them, is part of a larger context of the development of systematic protection against discrimination and the promotion and creation of equal opportunities. This year, in addition to the Diversity Policies Officer, the Diversity in Studies and Teaching working group is responsible for implementation with the active support of the Press, Communication and Media Executive Departments and the Walter-Krämer AStA of the University of Siegen.

"The Student Survey in Germany", a cooperation between the University of Konstanz's Higher Education Research Working Group, the German Center for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW) and the German Student Union (DSW), comes to the conclusion that universities are not discrimination-free places. Around a quarter of the students surveyed stated that they had experienced discrimination themselves during their studies, and almost half had observed discrimination against others (see DZHW BRIEF 2022). The study also shows that discrimination has a major impact on student satisfaction: The more belittling experiences students have had, the less satisfied they are with the atmosphere in their degree program - especially in contrast to students who have not experienced discrimination. They are also significantly more stressed, which in turn can lead to psychological impairments.

In order to implement effective protection against discrimination and establish needs-based services and advisory structures, the first step is to find out what students experience in this regard in their everyday university life. "Only by making this visible and then communicating it do we have the chance to raise awareness of the issue and work on improving the situation in the future," says Katharina Miketta, Diversity Policies Officer.

This is precisely where the anti-discrimination campaign #WirSindAnti comes in, starting on 23 May with the sending of the digital questionnaire for the anonymous survey of students' experiences of discrimination via the university's student mailing list. "Students will then have four weeks to anonymously tell us about situations and experiences in which they have already felt discriminated against or treated unequally in everyday student life," explains Miketta. "We very much hope that our students will give us an insight into this black box, as we still know far too little about specific experiences of discrimination." The Diversity in Studies and Teaching working group, which includes both lecturers and staff from academic management as well as students, will evaluate the survey following the survey period and prepare the reports in a generalized form so that they can be presented to the university public without drawing conclusions about specific individuals.

Diversity Day & IDAHOBIT* 2022

(11.02.2022) As a signatory to the Diversity Charter, the University of Siegen is once again flying the #FlagForDiversity and participating in the 10th nationwide Diversity Day (31 May) with a program focusing on gender diversity. At the same time, the University of Siegen is making its contribution to IDAHOBIT*, which is celebrated annually on May 17.

Greeting

As a signatory to the Diversity Charter and as a certified diversity-friendly university, the University of Siegen is once again flying the #FlagForDiversity and participating in the 10th nationwide Diversity Day (31 May) with a program focusing on gender diversity. The University of Siegen is also making its contribution to the International Day against Inter-, Homo-, Bi- and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT*), which is celebrated annually on May 17.

Under the motto #TINklUSiv - Trans*, Inter*, Non-Binary, the aim of this year's program is to make the topic of gender diversity more visible in the university context, to strengthen it and to raise awareness of the needs of those affected. Based on the decision of the Federal Constitutional Court (BVerfG) on October 10, 2017, the German Civil Status Act (PStG) was amended on December 18, 2018. There are now four options for recording gender: male, female, diverse, no registration. The decision of the Federal Constitutional Court strengthens the right to protection of gender self-determination and is therefore also groundbreaking for trans* people and people who identify as non-binary. Gender diversity is a reality at and in universities. As organizations under public law, universities have a responsibility in terms of equality and diversity policy to create conditions that enable all their members to work, study and interact with each other without discrimination (see BuKoF 2022 recommendations for action, p. 1).

At the University of Siegen, the Gender Diversity Working Group, which was founded in 2020, is taking on precisely this task of dismantling discriminatory structures and strengthening equal opportunities and was able to record its first small success at the beginning of the year with the installation of a first unisex toilet on the first floor of the NA building (next to the Senate Hall) on the Adolf-Reichwein-Str. campus. Since then, toilets for all have also been installed at many other campus locations (H-B 6420; PB-A 003_004; ENC-A 092; US-D 084). In addition to the area of structural infrastructure, the working group is also involved in the development of specific measures in the areas of name & gender entry, gender entry in digital registration systems and language & address.

In this program you will find exciting offers that the Gender Diversity Working Group has put together for you. The activities are generally aimed at all interested members of the university as well as, in some cases, citizens of the region and external guests. University employees who are interested are permitted to take part in activities during working hours after consultation with their supervisors, provided this does not conflict with any work-related interests.

This year, the combination of Diversity Day and IDAHOBIT* is being organized by the aforementioned Gender Diversity Working Group alongside the Diversity Policies Officer and financially supported by the Equal Opportunities Office, Gestu_S , the Graduate College Consequences of Social Assistance, the AStA and queer@uni.

We are looking forward to numerous, diverse and interested guests and an interesting exchange!

Prof. Dr. Alexandra Nonnenmacher (Vice-Rector for Education), Katharina Miketta (Diversity Policies Officer) and the Gender Diversity Working Group

Program:

Tuesday, May 31

Gender diversity at the university - experiences, challenges and opportunities

A lecture for the university public and interested citizens by Né Fink

Date: 31.05.2022, 18:00 - 19:30 s.t. Location: Online via Zoom - You can register HERE!

In this online lecture, terms that often appear in connection with gender diversity, such as inter*, trans*, diverse and abinary, will be explained. What experiences do trans* and abinary people actually have in the university context? What challenges and opportunities arise from gender diversity? In addition to these questions, the lecture will also address which structural conditions reinforce or mitigate discrimination against trans* and abinary students and how a natural approach to the topic of gender diversity is possible in personal encounters in everyday university life (correspondence, personal contact, teaching). There will be time for discussion and questions at the end of the lecture.

Speaker: Né Fink is a systemic consultant and self-employed trainer for gender diversity. Xe (pronoun) has coordinated the project "Support for trans* students" at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen for two years. Through counseling sessions with students and consulting sessions with employees of various universities, xe has gained insights into the situation of many trans* and abinary students and employees, as well as the everyday problems they face at the university. Né Fink is a volunteer in trans* and family counseling.

Thursday, June 02

"My journey from a white woman to a young man with a migration background"

A reading by Jayrôme C. Robinet for all interested university members and citizens of the region

Date: 02.06.2022 16:00 - 18:00 s.t. Location: Online via Zoom - You can register HERE!

What makes a woman a woman, a man a man? After a gender reassignment, Jayrôme C. Robinet has the direct comparison. He tells his personal story with wit and ease and shows how much our behavior is shaped by prejudices - stirring, honest and highly political. Jayrôme used to live as a white Frenchman. Then he moves to Berlin, starts taking testosterone and experiences a second puberty. He grows a dark beard - and suddenly he is being spoken to in Arabic on the street. Whether in a café, in the changing room or at passport control, he realizes that not only his identity has changed radically, but above all the behaviour of those around him. He can compare: How am I treated as a man, how am I treated as a woman? And what does it mean when not only gender changes, but apparently also origin and age?

and age? He gives a captivating account of his everyday queer life and reveals how insane social perceptions and classifications often are.

Author: Jayrôme C. Robinet, born in France in 1977, is a poet, spoken word artist and translator. His most recent publication is Das Licht ist weder gerecht noch ungerecht (2015). Jayrôme C. Robinet has been awarded numerous prizes and scholarships. He teaches at the Alice Salomon Hochschule and lives in Berlin.

Friday, June 03

"Gender diversity in everyday working life - conveyed in a practical way"

A workshop for employees in science, technology and administration

The workshop can be credited with 4 work units towards the certificate program "Professional Teaching Competence for University Teaching" (basic module).

Date: 03.06.2022, 09:00 - 13:00 s.t. Location: Online via Zoom - Please register bindingly by May 20 at: diversity@uni-siegen.de You will receive the access data in good time before the start of the workshop.

Gender diversity is also becoming increasingly visible at universities. Students and lecturers are coming out as trans* or inter*, using neo-pronouns and undergoing social, legal and/or medical transitions. However, gender diversity, including linguistic inclusion (forms of address, forms) in everyday working life, is still often experienced as a challenge. How can employees in science and administration take gender diversity into account in their everyday work? What does it take to integrate the topic as a cross-section in everyday working life? This digital workshop teaches the basics of dealing with gender diversity and clarifies uncertainties in this regard. Terms that are often used in connection with gender diversity (e.g. inter*, trans*, non-binary) are defined. The trainer provides examples of the realities of life for so-called gender minorities and gives practical tips for respectful, unbiased interaction in everyday working life.

Working methods: Keynote speeches; constellations; individual and group work; discussion; exercises

Trainer: Né Fink works as a trainer and consultant in the field of gender diversity. Xe (pronoun) coordinated the pilot project "Support for trans* students" at the University of Göttingen for two years. Né Fink has a Master's degree in "Gender and Ethnicity" and is a systemic consultant. Xe also has many years of experience in trans* and family counseling.

Do you have any questions or need help or support in order to take part in the program? Then please contact us in advance at: diversity@uni-siegen.de

Data protection notice

We would like to point out that no photos may be taken of the digital offers! Upon request, materials will only be passed on by the organizers themselves. Please also note the Code of Conduct for digital events at the University of Siegen!

#TINklUSiv Trans*, Inter*, Non-Binary - Gender Diversity at the University of Siegen (Download Flyer EN)

Digital Diversity Week 2021 #SeeTheUnseen (May 17 to 21)

(24.02.2021) Here you will find the program with numerous activities of the Digital Diversity Week #SeeTheUnseen - Mental Health in Studies, Teaching and Everyday Work at the (digital) University of Siegen. The Diversity Week is framed by a university-wide challenge (see separate announcement). Have fun!

Greeting

As a signatory to the Diversity Charter, the University of Siegen is once again flying the #FlagForDiversity in 2021 - despite the coronavirus pandemic - and is taking part in the 9th nationwide Diversity Day with a diverse digital program.

Under the motto #SeeTheUnseen, the invisible will be made visible over the course of a week through a variety of activities on the topic of mental health in virtual space.

Mental health is an essential prerequisite for quality of life, performance and social participation. Impairments to mental well-being are usually invisible to outsiders and are still very much a taboo subject. According to the study "Studying impaired - best 2" by the Deutsches Studentenwerk, mental illnesses actually make up the largest group of students with impaired health at 53%. In addition, the number of sick notes due to mental health problems has risen sharply in recent years. They are now the third most common cause of sickness-related absences from work. It is not uncommon for mental health problems to be caused by stress, pressure to perform or fear of failure at university or at work - especially under the new conditions created by the coronavirus pandemic. The associated challenges, such as isolation and loneliness, family stress and excessive demands due to work-life balance problems caused by working from home, home schooling and care work, fears about one's livelihood and future, as well as concerns about one's own health and that of loved ones, put mind and soul to a tough, unprecedented test. All of this is reason enough to focus on the multifaceted topic of mental health as part of this year's Diversity Week in order to help make the invisible visible.

In this program you will find numerous digital offers, workshops, training courses and lectures. The activities are generally aimed at all interested members of the university and, in some cases, also at citizens of the region and external guests. University employees who are interested are permitted, after consultation with their respective supervisors

to take part in individual events during working hours, provided that this does not conflict with any official interests.

We look forward to welcoming numerous, diverse and interested guests and wish you lots of fun, a change from everyday life and relaxation!

Yours sincerely Prof. Dr. Alexandra Nonnenmacher (Vice-Rector for Education), Katharina Miketta (Diversity Policies Officer) and the organizing team of Diversity Week 2021

Program

Monday, May 17 IDAHOBIT* 2021

This year's Diversity Week kicks off with IDAHOBIT*. This abbreviation stands for the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia. The asterisk marks all gender-marginalized people affected by discrimination who do not feel that they belong to one of these groups. IDAHOBIT* is celebrated every year on May 17 and addresses the discrimination that people whose gender identity deviates from the binary system or whose sexual orientation does not correspond to heteronormativity are exposed to on a daily basis and worldwide. These processes of stigmatization are also often invisible to third parties and affect the (mental) health of those affected by experiences of exclusion. Keep an eye on the Gender Equality website to find out what information we are providing around the day of action for interested parties to ensure greater visibility of the issue!

Tuesday, May 18

Stay calm despite stress - Effective stress management in everyday teaching with a focus on time and task management

In this practice-oriented workshop of the Center for Academic Teaching, conducted by Dr. Peggy Fischer, lecturers learn how to deal with everyday stress by consciously managing the time available. In addition to helpful tools and techniques for self-organization, you will also learn balancing methods for mental relaxation. Motto: "Work smarter, not harder!"

Time: Tuesday, 18.05. and Wednesday, 19.05.2021 09:00 a.m. plus optional teaching consultation Date n.a.

Location: ONLINE (access data will be provided by the organizers after registration)

There are max. 12 places available Please register bindingly by 17.05. at: hochschuldidaktik@zfh.uni-siegen.de

LINK

Mindfulness workshop - academic writing

Do writing tasks as part of your studies (e.g. term paper, research report or thesis) make you feel uncomfortable and inhibited? Do you already feel helpless and overwhelmed at the thought of writing a longer academic text? Perhaps this has been exacerbated by working from home as a result of the restrictions associated with the coronavirus pandemic? Whether you are still at the beginning of your studies or you are already in the middle of your thesis: Sonja Sälzer and Ute Reimers (lecturers in linguistics with a focus on writing consultancy) would like to demystify academic writing with you in this workshop through specific mindfulness exercises. You will then be able to use the new insights and exercises gained from this workshop strategically in future situations and finally face a new writing task with more confidence and self-assurance.

Time: Tuesday 18.05. 09:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Location: ONLINE (access data will be provided by the organizers after registration) Please register by 11.5 at: reimers@anglistik.uni-siegen.de

Mental balance at work and in everyday life

Mental stress factors usually result from four possible sources in the workplace: the work task, the work organization, the work environment and social relationships.

The Occupational Health and Safety Department at the University of Siegen will be happy to advise you as an employee in individually arranged one-to-one meetings on special measures to help counteract psychological stress at work and in everyday life and to strengthen your resilience in the long term.

Time: Tuesday, 18.5. 10:00 - 13:00

Location: ONLINE (access data will be provided by the organizers after registration) Please register by 14.05. at: sabine.troester-mueller@zv.uni-siegen.de

Mentally fit through primary school teaching

As a new stage in life, studying for a degree, from enrolling to passing your Master's thesis, brings with it many challenges that are not always easy to master. As the OASE Learning Workshop, we want to be available to provide support and advice throughout your studies - especially during the stressful time of the coronavirus pandemic - and will be opening our doors digitally on this day. You are cordially invited to get to know our study-related and support services and us as a team. We look forward to meeting you!

Time: Tuesday, 18.05. 13:00 - 15:30 Location: ONLINE The access data can be found on our homepage: https://www.bildung.uni-siegen.de/grundschule/oase/

Self-regulation in the home office

During the coronavirus crisis, many people are working and studying mainly from home. At the same time, leisure opportunities are severely limited. In this lecture by Prof.' Dr.' Marie Hennecke deals with the question of how to deal with the fact that the boundaries between fulfilling duties at work, studying and leisure time are becoming increasingly blurred and it is becoming increasingly difficult to enjoy and experience one's own leisure time.

Prof.' Dr.' Alexandra Nonnenmacher, Vice-Rector for Education, will officially open Diversity Week 2021 with a greeting from the Rectorate as part of this psychological lecture.

Time: Tuesday, 18.05. Start 6 p.m. s.t.

Place: ONLINE (access data will be announced by the organizers after registration) To register, please click here by 14.5: LINK Registration! You will receive the access data shortly.

Wednesday, May 19

Relaxation - how does it work?

Everyone knows and experiences stress. But if it gets out of hand, it makes you ill. Relaxation is an effective antidote. Unfortunately, this term has often become a foreign word in our modern world or is misinterpreted as time spent in front of the television. The good news is that active relaxation can be learned and helps you to remain more relaxed in stressful situations and reduce physical and emotional arousal.

In this short presentation by Alexandra Ragaller (Central Sports and Exercise Unit) & Micha Sommer (Siegen-Wittgenstein District Sports Association), you will get an overview of the causes and effects of stress and learn how you can become more stress-resistant through relaxation exercises. If you wish, you can try out a relaxation method directly afterwards. In this case, please also register for the PMR workshop.

Time: Wednesday, 19.05.2021 10:15 - 10:45 am

Location: ONLINE (access data will be announced by the organizers after registration) Please register bindingly by 18.05. at: https://buchung.sport.uni-siegen.de/angebote/SoSe_2021/_Entspannung_-_Wie_geht_das_.html

Introduction to progressive muscle relaxation (PMR)

Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is a relaxation and stress reduction method recognized by health insurance companies. In this workshop, Alexandra Ragaller (Central Sports and Exercise Unit) & Micha Sommer (Siegen-Wittgenstein District Sports Association) will first give you a brief overview of what PMR is and how it is used. We will then carry out a first session of Progressive Muscle Relaxation together with all participants.

You will need: A soft surface or mat; a pillow or towel to place under your head; and if you are slightly cold, a light woolen blanket.

Time: Wednesday, 19.05.2021 11:00 - 11:45 am

Location: ONLINE max. 40 participants (access data will be announced by the organizers after registration) Please register bindingly by 18.05. at: https://buchung.sport.uni-siegen.de/angebote/SoSe_2021/_Einstieg_in_die_Progressive_Muskelrelaxation__PMR_.html

Digital museum on the topic of mental health

What do equality and inclusion have to do with mental health? What services are available at the University of Siegen? And how do home office and lockdown affect the everyday university life of people with disabilities, chronically ill people, gender marginalized people and families? The Equal Opportunities Office, the Family Service Office, FraMeS and the Inclusive University of Siegen Service Office are exploring these questions in the form of a virtual museum that can be visited all day and at any time. There will also be an open discussion about what has been seen from 12 noon to 2 p.m., during which interested parties can ask the participants any questions they may have.

Time: Wednesday, 19.05.2021, open exchange from 12:00 to 14:00

Place: Online (access data will be announced by the organizers after registration) Please register bindingly by 16 May at projekte.gleichstellung@uni-siegen.de

Thursday, May 20

Mental health in the "corona pandemic"

The online semester presents us all with an unfamiliar situation. Mental health crises can arise when our own ability to act is severely restricted, for example during lockdown. In this workshop, psychologist Emine Selvi from the psychological counseling service and Dr. Sonja Weber-Menges from the Inclusive University of Siegen service office will discuss the various stresses and strains together with you. In order to understand these, Ms. Selvi will present a psychological concept. We will discuss stress management, self-management and time management, as these skills and abilities are particularly important in the current situation. You will also receive 10 strategies with exercises for coping with your everyday life and studies in these "Corona times".

Time: Thursday, 20.05. 10:00 - 12:00 o'clock

Location: ONLINE (access data will be announced by the organizers after registration) Please register by 14.5. bindingly at: service-inklusion@uni-siegen.de

Studying with psychological stress at the University of Siegen

What about appreciation for people with mental disabilities at our university? Do they find an environment here in which they can study on an equal footing with others without barriers? The event by Prof. Dr. Albrecht Rohrmann (Social Pedagogy) will focus on the requirements for and experiences with inclusion at the university on the basis of specialist input and reports from students.

Time: Thursday, 20.05. 14:00 - 16:00

Location: ONLINE (access data will be announced shortly before the event after registration) Please register bindingly by 18.5. at: https://umfragen.uni-siegen.de/index.php/215944?lang=de

Friday, May 21

"Everything will be fine! Solutions for dealing with stress during the doctoral phase"

The doctoral phase is characterized by high work demands with vague instructions and uncertain future planning. The workshop of the House of Young Talents - conducted by Michaela Klucken - explains stressors and provides methods that will reduce your stress level and make the doctoral period easier.

Time: Friday, 21.05. 10:00 - 14:00

Location: ONLINE (access data will be provided by the organizers after registration)

There are 15 places available. If you are interested, please register as early as possible at: www.uni-siegen.de/hyt/anmeldung/

Do you have any questions or need help or support to take part in the events? Then please contact us in advance at: diversity@uni-siegen.de

Supporting program

The Diversity Week is framed by a university-wide challenge (see separate announcement)

Data protection notice:

We would like to point out that no photos may be taken of the digital offers! Materials will only be passed on by the organizers themselves on request. Please also note the Code of Conduct for digital events during Diversity Week 2021 sent out by the organizers!

Diversity Day 2019 at the University of Siegen #WirSindAnti

(24.07.2019) The University of Siegen celebrated the Germany-wide Diversity Day on May 28. The focus was on the topic of anti-discrimination.

What do the University of Siegen's psychological counseling service, the legal advice service for refugees and the Arbeiterkind.de group have in common? They all stand for diversity and fight for equal opportunities and respectful coexistence. Together with other student initiatives and university institutions, they celebrated the 7th German Diversity Day on Tuesday, May 28. As a signatory to the Diversity Charter, the University of Siegen once again "flew the flag for diversity" on this nationwide day of action. Under the motto #WirSindAnti, the university organized a diversity market of opportunities in the Haardter-Berg-Schule around the main topic of "anti-discrimination". "I am delighted that so many employees from the university and other institutions took part so actively in Diversity Day and used this opportunity to show that this topic is particularly important to them," said Ulf Richter, Chancellor of the University of Siegen. "The constitutionally guaranteed freedom of research and teaching obliges us as a university to resolutely oppose discrimination of any kind."

The range of topics covered by the more than 20 stands was wide-ranging. "We are fighting for more equal opportunities for students," explained Elisa Knitsch, student and member of Arbeiterkind.de. Being the first in the family to study is not always easy. The group meets regularly to talk about topics such as financing and choosing a course of study and to share their stories and experiences. At the Diversity Day, they played the "Game of Life" role play with the visitors. In doing so, they showed how much personal starting conditions - for example, the parents' profession or origin and skin color - can influence the course of life.

At the Refugee Law Clinic stand, students Swantje Liesendahl and Signe Kessler provided information about a relatively new service: students from all disciplines advise refugees on legal issues and support them in dealing with authorities and concluding contracts. Students from linguistics help with translations, for example, while students from business law take care of contractual matters.

Together with the Center for Planning and Evaluation of Social Services (ZPE) at the University of Siegen, "Engagement Global" presented itself as a point of contact for the diversity of development policy engagement. The company acts as a point of contact for students who want to get involved worldwide and organizes projects together with the City of Siegen and the University of Siegen.

The Inclusive University Service Office and the University's Psychological Counseling Service shared a stand. They started a so-called silent discussion on the topic of mental illness. What experiences have you had with mental illness? What prejudices do you have and what would a world without stigmatization look like? Visitors to the Diversity Day were able to stick their answers and opinions on a wall as post-its.

The Equal Opportunities and Family Service Office provided information on the topic of the pay gap, while the Schlau Siegen association reported on its educational work on gender and sexual diversity. The Municipal Integration Center of the Siegen-Wittgenstein district and the media library against racism and discrimination from the South Westphalia Association for Social Work and Culture also took part. "I am delighted with the variety of offers at Diversity Day," said Professor Dr. Dagmar Abendroth-Timmer, Rectorate Representative for Educational Pathways and Diversity. "It's great to see how visitors get to know our offers, but also how the various players inside and outside the university can network at Diversity Day."

Visitors to Diversity Day were able to use a questionnaire to anonymously report on their own experiences of discrimination and express their wishes for how the university should deal with it. "There is discrimination at the university - we know that," said Katharina Miketta, a consultant in the Prorectorates for Educational Pathways

and Diversity, organizer of the Diversity Day. "We want to use the questionnaires to find out exactly what this discrimination looks like, where and by whom it occurs and who is affected. The aim is to use the experiences gathered to find ways to support those affected, but above all to prevent any kind of discrimination in the first place."

Under the motto "Die Uni is(s)t bunt!", three favorite dishes from canteen employees with an international background were served in the canteen of the Studierendenwerk Siegen. In the evening, "Panoptikum - das studentische Kino" presented the Oscar-winning crime comedy BlacKkKlansman (US 2018) in the blue lecture hall.