Links
Equality
Equal opportunities for women and men is a central criterion for the Rectorate of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) when it comes to the development of the university. The Rectorate considers gender mainstreaming to be a cross-cutting task and integrates it into all decision-making structures and management processes.
Equal opportunities for women and men start by looking beyond the traditional restrictions of gender-typical subject selection: Even before starting their degrees, in self-developed project weeks, students have the opportunity to leave the beaten track and take a look at “atypical” subjects. Thus girls get to dip into the sciences and engineering, boys, for example, into education or psychology. In this way, everyone is able to find the subject that matches their own inclinations. Special mentoring programs help students find their feet in the university and in professional life – also as a woman in a typically “male occupation”.
Family friendly university
The Rectorate of the RUB pays particular attention to the implementation of measures to combine work and family life better. With great success: Since 2006, the RUB has borne the official title “Family Friendly University”. The comprehensive range of services includes, for example, childcare on campus, “ProKids”, which supports parents with advice and assistance, and a relief fund for single-parent students.
Diversity and Inclusion
The demographic profile of students and employees at RUB has become increasingly diversified. As part of its efforts to allow all students and staff equal participation in research and teaching/learning, the RUB rectorate addressed the issue of diversity and inclusion at a strategy meeting in December 2011. At the meeting, a resolution was passed to establish a working group across all disciplines and administrative units, which is to prepare a comprehensive strategy for diversity and inclusion in line with the RUB ideal of “universitas” in the summer semester of 2012.
Careers for two
Under the headword “Dual Career”, the Rectorate of the RUB has initiated a concept which makes it easier for academic couples to combine family and career. If both partners are highly qualified and one of them is appointed to the RUB, his or her spouse should not have to miss out on their professional advancement or be kept at a distance: From the very start of appointment negotiations, the RUB ensures that also the partner is given career perspectives.
Lore-Agnes Prize – rectorate prize for projects promoting the equality of women and men
The Rectorate of the RUB awards the Lore-Agnes Prize for outstanding, innovative projects promoting women and/or equal opportunities. The award includes prize money of 15,000 euros and is conferred every two years. The aim of the prize is to create awareness of initiatives promoting the advancement of women and/or equal opportunities, to commend these and to support their future activity through the prize money.
Writ large: gender studies
The RUB’s academic profile includes an interdisciplinary focus on women’s and gender studies. A total of six professors have an explicit link to the subject gender, and the Master degree course “gender studies” is unique in Germany.
