Responsibilities of the Equal Opportunities Officer

The equal opportunities officers are committed to promoting gender equality at the university. They advise, support, and assist university members and committees on all matters related to equal treatment, equal opportunity, and balancing work, studies, family, and caregiving. Their work specifically includes the following areas of responsibility:

  • Advise & inform
    • Advice for students and employees on equal opportunities, work/study balance, family and caregiving
    • Consultation hours and confidential support for complaints, e.g. in cases of discrimination, sexual harassment or sexualized violence
    • Information on rights, obligations and internal and external advice and support services
    • Advice on applying for funding for equality projects
    • Reporting on equality work in committees
  • Support & Initiate
    • Initiating and supporting measures to promote women and implement parity
    • Supporting positive measures to reduce structural disadvantages (e.g. mentoring programs), especially for women with disabilities
    • Bringing gender equality issues to committees and university-wide processes
    • Developing recommendations and guidelines, e.g. for appointment procedures or fair employment conditions
  • Sensitize
    • Initiating training and continuing education programs on gender-related topics
    • Promoting gender competence, e.g., regarding gender-inclusive language
    • Incorporating a gender-sensitive perspective into committees and commissions
  • Accompany & evaluate processes
    • Participation in evaluation and monitoring processes for the implementation of gender equality goals
    • Participation in the creation and further development of equality concepts, plans and guidelines
  • Networking & public relations
    • Collaboration with internal university stakeholders (e.g., Staff Council, student council, Disability Advisory Service)
    • Exchange with equal opportunities officers at the university, state, and federal levels
    • Providing information and contributing to public relations efforts on gender equality issues
  • Control & monitoring
    • Participation in personnel measures and recruitment procedures
    • Supporting appropriate and, where possible, equal representation of the sexes in committees
    • Incorporating gender equality concerns into decision-making processes and target agreements
    • Monitoring the implementation of gender equality goals (gender monitoring)
    • Exercising the right of objection in accordance with the Saxon Equal Opportunities Act