ExU Project Gender Equity 1 and 2

The promotion of equal opportunities is seen as essential at KIT. The umbrella strategy defines this as an outstanding goal and sees it as "the task of all managers to develop and strengthen the corresponding culture in their division." (KIT 2025)

The success of equal opportunity measures also depends to a large extent on the commitment of all KIT employees.

KIT therefore launched the "Gender Equity 1"and "Gender Equity 2" projects as part of its 2019 Excellence Strategy.

ExU project "Gender Equity 1"

The Gender Equity 1 project pursues the following forward-looking objectives:

  • to initiate a process of cultural change and vision development initiated by the Executive Board and the Heads od Divisions with regard to the topic of equal opportunities,
  • enabling discipline-specific equal opportunity approaches in the divisions, KIT departments and administration, infrastructure and technology, and
  • initiate an intensive KIT-wide examination of and reflection on the topic of "diversity and equal opportunities" as an integral part of the KIT culture.

KIT's view of equal opportunities as a management issue (top-down task) and as the result of a participatory process involving all KIT members (bottom-up task), which is clearly reflected in these objectives, is recognizable in the various formats used within the framework of Gender Equity 1:

Phase 1 (2019-2023)

 

In a culture and vision workshop, the members of the Executive Board and the Heads of Divisions developed an overall strategy to strengthen (the appreciation of) equal opportunities at KIT. In so-called think tanks for the five scientific divisions as well as administration, infrastructure and technology, up to 30 people at a time developed ideas for equal opportunity measures that address the specific situation of the respective division and/or its disciplines. The overall orientation of KIT with regard to equal opportunities was always taken into consideration. Following the workshops, applications could be submitted to PEBA-CDM for financial support for the planned activities in the amount of up to €75,000/application for the duration of two years. From summer/autumn 2021 until the end of 2023, the following 14 activities were funded from Gender Equity 1 funds:

The successful applicants came together with the other people responsible for the activities and further participants to reflect on their projects and share best practices as part of a meta forum in the middle of their activity. The end of the two-year funding phase was celebrated at a closing event in October 2023.

Phase 2 (2024-2025)

 

 

ExU Project "Gender Equity 2"

The Gender Equity 2 project has the following overarching objectives:

  • To increase the attractiveness of KIT for female candidates and thereby increase the proportion of women at professorial level,
  • and thus contribute to cultural change at KIT and to increasing scientific performance

As part of the Gender Equity 2 project, various measures were developed to increase the attractiveness of KIT for female candidates from Germany and abroad.

A particular focus here was the creation of a website with important information for the target group and a guide to recruitment.
The website offers compact information and insights into working as a professor at KIT.
The recruitment guide serves in particular to support appointment committees in finding, approaching and (actively) recruiting outstanding female scientists.

Another component is the Gender Equity 2 appointment budget. It makes it possible to respond to the wishes of female candidates regarding equipment. So far, many female candidates who have been offered funds from this budget have accepted the call to KIT.

KIT

 

The "Gender Equity 1 and 2" projects are funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science as part of the Excellence Strategy of the federal and state governments.

Contact

Ines Köhler
M.A. Ines Köhler
Young Investigator Group Preparation Program (YIG Prep Pro)

(0721) 608-45117ines koehler does-not-exist.kit edu