Realizing Diversity: Equal Opportunities and Diversity at RWTH Aachen University (ReaDy@RWTH)
A Project Belonging to the “Diversity at German Universities” Initiative of the German Rectors' Conference
On June 1, 2023, the project “Realizing Diversity: Equal Opportunities and Diversity at RWTH Aachen University” (in short: ReaDy@RWTH) was launched. It was successful alongside 32 other projects in the nationwide competition of the “Diversity at German Universities” initiative of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK). The initiative is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
“Diversity and equal opportunities have been central topics at RWTH Aachen University for over two decades. We promote unity and we work against discrimination and exclusion. What’s more, we stand for tolerance and respect,”
The aim of the project is to assist in the implementation of the Diversity Strategy (2022–2027), which was adopted in December 2022, in three specific areas: 1. Agree upon which objectives we wish to achieve, 2. Develop a Diversity Monitoring Roadmap and 3. Launch a major Realize Diversity! campaign.
The Rectorate Staff Unit for Inclusion, Gender and Diversity Management (abbr.: IGaD) of RWTH Aachen University is responsible for the implementation of the three project priorities on behalf of the Rectorate. It does this together with the project partners, consisting of the Equal Opportunities Office, the Marketing Staff Unit, the Press and Communication Department and Divisions 6.2 – Teaching and 6.3 – Controlling and Information Management.
Specific objectives were agreed upon with central and decentralized stakeholders in order to specifically promote the implementation of selected measures from the diversity strategy. The Roadmap Diversity Monitoring aims to strengthen the database on diversity issues and to create a solid long-term basis for the further development of equal opportunities measures.
“Realize Diversity!” – a Comprehensive Awareness-Raising and Communication Campaign
Realize Diversity! is a comprehensive awareness-raising and communication campaign that was launched in January 2024 as part of the third project focus to strengthen the further expansion of the University as an equal opportunity and diversity-sensitive place to work and study. In addition, the goals and values of RWTH in the context of equal opportunities and diversity are to be made visible and, above all, tangible across the University and beyond. In the accompanying film series, committed people and experts from RWTH Aachen University talk in a total of eight short videos about what diversity means to them and what they do every day to further their diversity-related goals.
“At RWTH, these issues are cross-cutting topics that really affect all areas of the University. By adopting the diversity strategy, we as a University have taken a significant step towards implementing comprehensive equal opportunities.”
More Information
Playlist „Realize Diversity!“:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1louL7Fjaw-Ttz7mIrJYuvyxvYjKilGW
“Realize Diversity!” campaign website:
www.rwth-aachen.de/realizediversity
– Author: Nathalie Wolf