Diversity & Equal Opportunities
Alanus University is committed to the diversity of its students and staff and sees each person in their individuality. Discrimination has no place at Alanus University.
Diversity, Equal Opportunities and Personal Development
Alanus University sees diversity as an enrichment and is actively committed to a culture of equal opportunities and appreciation.
Students should feel welcome with all their backgrounds, perspectives and life paths and be free to shape their own personal journey. In an open learning environment focused on individuality and personal development, the university supports its students in discovering their own strengths, taking responsibility and finding their place in a diverse society. This creates a campus where differences are not only accepted but used as impulses for shared learning and social transformation.
Julian Huke
You can find out more about the university's profile and mission statement here.
Commitment to a diverse higher education landscape
To actively live and shape equal opportunities and diversity at the university, there is the Office of the Equal Opportunities Officer. It is committed to strengthening equal opportunities and equality at the university. It develops measures to promote diversity, advises students and staff on equal opportunities issues, and participates in decision-making processes to prevent discrimination. It also raises awareness within the university community about topics such as gender equality, balancing studies, work and family life, as well as fair structures. Its goal is to create a respectful, inclusive environment in which all people have the same opportunities to develop their potential.
Equal Opportunities Officer, Alfter campus
Equal Opportunities Officer, Mannheim campus
Open office hours
The Equal Opportunities Officer is supported by the Commission for Equal Opportunities, Inclusion and Diversity. If you have questions about equal opportunities, staff and students can contact either the Equal Opportunities Officer, her deputy or one of the members of the commission.
For an appreciative, safe and diverse community
The university’s anti-discrimination policy forms the basis for respectful interaction and serves to protect all university members – regardless of origin, gender, sexual identity, religion, age, disability or other personal characteristics. It also includes a complaints office for discrimination and sexual harassment.
Objective of the policy
The anti-discrimination policy is a university-wide set of rules that
- defines clear procedures for cases of discrimination,
- names trusted persons and counselling offices with defined responsibilities,
- strengthens and supports those affected,
- and clarifies the responsibility of the management level in these processes.
Till Fischer
Alanus University's official anti-discrimination policy regulates the complaints procedure in cases of discrimination and sexual harassment. It also includes a catalogue of measures that may apply in the event of a complaint.
Step 1: Informal initial consultation
Step 2: Official complaints procedure
List of trusted persons
Points of contact for people affected by sexualized violence
By students for students, together against racism
The university group against racism is committed to an anti-racist university that does not shy away from a reflective approach to sensitive topics and where all people can devote themselves to their studies without having to fear racist discrimination.
The idea behind the anti-racist university group emerged from a shared examination of internalized and structural racism, white supremacy and allyship (meaning the solidarity of privileged people with people from socially oppressed groups). The visibility of BIPoC in academic spaces and concrete anti-discrimination work should be a priority at Alanus University. Even in academia and institutions, the knowledge of People of Color is marginalized and delegitimized, as it is consistently excluded by the white gaze through structural racism in society. The university group advocates for Alanus University to work against reproducing an educational system that is predominantly white.
Anyone who would like to be part of the anti-racist university group and work together on the topics of anti-racism and critical whiteness at the university is warmly welcome. The group is happy to welcome anyone who wants to learn together through this engagement and who is also willing to question their own internalizations in relation to racism.
Further information is available on Instagram @antira_hsg_alanus or by email at antirassismus@alanus.edu.
Valuable notes and guidance for diversity-sensitive and gender-equitable interaction can be found here.
► Recommendations for inclusive and respectful online teaching and communication
