"Strong in diversity. Strong organisation" - this is the motto of the new "audit vielfaltsgerechte hochschule" of berufundfamilie Service GmbH, with which Paderborn University has now been awarded as one of two universities in a pilot phase. University President Prof. Dr. Birgitt Riegraf accepted the certificate today at the official award ceremony in Berlin. In the course of the audit, the existing diversity-friendly and diversity-strengthening offers were assessed and further goals of sustainable diversity management were defined. The resulting measures will be implemented during the three-year term of the certificate. The aim is to identify the potential of diversity and to systematise and sustainably develop diversity management.
Designed as a development audit, it serves as a driver of lasting cultural change. The special feature: All core dimensions of diversity - age, ethnic origin and nationality, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, physical and mental abilities, religion and world view as well as social origin - can be taken into account and additionally linked to the cross-cutting issues of life phases and individual life plans.
"Paderborn University has long been actively committed to equal opportunities and diversity in all areas. This includes, in particular, the equal participation of all university members in everyday academic life and the strengthening of a gender- and diversity-sensitive organisational culture, which must be further developed in the future. The diverse potentials and competences of university members are recognised, appreciated and promoted at our university, regardless of gender, social and cultural background. That is why we are very pleased to be able to participate in the pilot phase of the new audit," says Riegraf.
berufundfamilie Service GmbH, which emerged from an initiative of the non-profit Hertie Foundation, draws its experience in the accompanying design of organisations' personnel policies and their certification from the "audit berufundfamilie" and "audit familiengerechte hochschule". Oliver Schmitz, Managing Director of berufundfamilie Service GmbH: "As a service provider and think tank, we have been supporting organisations in the audit berufundfamilie since 1999 and in the audit familiengerechte hochschule since 2002 in the areas of family and private life and life phases, which are characterised by diversity. Together with the certified organisations, we have thus always been shaping an attractive, non-discriminatory and equal-opportunity working and studying environment." In 2005, Paderborn University was the first university in NRW to be awarded the "audit familiengerechte hochschule" certificate.
Irmgard Pilgrim, Equal Opportunities Officer at the Paderborn University, explains: "The certification process helps us to better identify any remaining needs for action and to develop tailor-made measures.
