Diversity as Opportunity

Prof. Dr. Gabriele Weiß and Katharina Miketta with the signed Charta of Diversity.

The University of Siegen has signed the "Charter of Diversity". The nationwide initiative promotes diversity in companies and institutions and works against exclusion and prejudice.

The University of Siegen once again commits to diversity, both, for students and employees - and pledges itself to creating a work environment free from exclusion and prejudice. For this reason, it has now signed the "Charter of Diversity". This nationwide initiative was launched by several companies about ten years ago. It is committed to ensuring that all employees are valued "regardless of gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion or belief, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity". More than 2,450 companies and public institutions are now among the signatories. Patron of the charter is Chancellor Angela Merkel.

(Unter dem Bild: Prof. Dr. Gabriele Weiß and Katharina Miketta with the signed Charta of Diversity.)

"The diversity of students and employees with their different talents and abilities is a great opportunity for the University of Siegen. We must utilize them, "says Prof. Dr. Gabriele Weiß, Prorector for Education and Diversity. "Many points of the charter are already a matter of course at the university. Nevertheless, it is important to draw attention to the subject of diversity and to raise awareness among the university community." The establishment of her prorectorate a year ago did not complete this work, emphasizes Weiß.

With the new Prorectorate Education and Diversity the University of Siegen had sharpened its profile early 2016 as a university, which is even more focused on individual biographies of students and employees. The heterogeneity of all participants should be valued and encouraged. Flexible structures help to allow a wide range of courses for students and employees. The Charter also commits the University to review its own personnel processes with regard to "diversity", to communicate the implementation of the Charter internally and externally - and to actively involve the university community.

"We can also post our actions on the central homepage of the charter," says Prof. Weiß. "There we also see the activities of the other signatories and thus the possibility of a supra-regional exchange." The "Charter of Diversity" is driving the discussion on diversity management in Germany forward with different projects and actions. This includes a nationwide diversity day, an annual conference, a youth project, as well as topical information on the subject. In NRW alone, almost 20 universities signed the "Charter of Diversity".