Gender and Diversity
The RWTH is based on a “People Policy”, which sees equal opportunities as part of an innovative, lively university culture. The university strives to become a “place to be” that attracts talented and diverse researchers, students and employees and enables them to develop their full potential regardless of gender, socio-economic background and living conditions. The implementation of gender equality and diversity policy is a strategic task and an essential guiding principle for the goals and tasks of the university. Socially responsible research and innovation is seen as closely related to diversity and justice.
The Cluster of Excellence is closely linked to this strategy and reflects the context between diversity and innovation. For this reason, Prof. Carmen Leicht-Scholten, the rectorate delegate for “socially responsible education” and head of the institute “Gender and Diversity in Engineering Sciences” (GDI), is responsible for the development of the gender and diversity strategy in the context of the CoE. Various teaching and research projects of the institute have so far been awarded best practice examples by the DFG by adding “Research-Oriented Standards on Gender Equality” to the DFG toolbox. With a view to the agile connection between various disciplines within the cluster, the GDI has already carried out successful research projects with the departments of computer science, mechanical engineering and the humanities. It creates a bridge between the disciplines and enables a holistic perspective on prevailing needs, habits and research cultures. The CoE is committed to equal opportunities and recognizes the potential of a diverse work force, which is why it strives for greater diversity and particularly focuses on internationality and gender equality.
In order to promote cultural change, the CoE actively involves companies with gender and diversity expertise from our industrial advisory board in the exchange of good practice examples. Specialist discussions (Diversity at Work) ensure the exchange with international strategies and enable the implementation of new perspectives in the CoE concept.