Working towards gender equality

The goal of the University’s gender equality efforts is to ensure that all genders enjoy the same opportunities in the various areas and departments of the University of Münster. The aim is to eliminate practices which currently discriminate against women and implement measures that promote equal opportunity. Part of the gender equality work involves getting more women to participate in University committees and appointment procedures and offering continuing education courses to academic and non-academic women staff and students.

Katrin Hermsen and Eva van Koolwijk are your equal opportunity representatives working to ensure gender equality at the Institute of Education.

You can find news and updates on gender equality at the University of Münster in the newsletter “wissen.leben.gender”.

Practical support for institutes and committees: Brochure on gender equality aspects in appointment procedures

What aspects of gender equality should appointment committee members consider? What has changed since the provisions of the State Equal Opportunity Act [Landesgleichstellungsgesetz, LGG NRW] were revised in 2016? Institutes, committee chairs and members can find answers to these questions in our new brochure “Appointment procedures: Brochure on gender equality aspects” (in German only). The brochure is available in print and digital form. The equal opportunity committee of the Faculty of Educational and Social Sciences (FB 06) compiled the most important rights and obligations in appointment procedures with respect to gender equality. In this compact overview, we offer concrete procedural tools for appointment committees and explain how to implement the new regulations of the State Equal Opportunity Act.

The brochure contains information on matters pertaining to gender equality during all phases of the appointment procedure. Additional and detailed information is provided on how to actively recruit women applicants and make selection criteria even more precise. The latest legal regulations emphasise the added value of having experienced and early-career women colleagues on appointment committees.

To download the brochure, click here. If you would like the print version, please contact us via email, and we will leave a copy for you to pick up from the IfE administrative office.

If you have experienced sexual harassment ...

or sexualised violence in the university context, you can seek advice and assistance from our faculty’s equal opportunity representative 

Dr. Katrin Huxel 

or our student equal opportunity representative. You can rest assured that we will keep your identity confidential and support you in any way we can. If you wish, we can work together on deciding what further steps can be taken. Visit our webpage for more information and support services.

Agreement on Respectful Behaviour

The Agreement on Respectful Behaviour was introduced at the University of Münster in 2013. Its aim is to ensure a positive working environment based on trust and respect and to prevent misconduct, such as sexual harassment, bullying, stalking and discrimination.

Download as a PDF

Handout on gender-equitable language

Gender-equitable language plays a key role in promoting gender equality. For language shapes our perception. Texts with gender-equitable language specify exactly who is being addressed and ensures that no one is excluded. At the same time, when using gender-equitable language, it is important to ensure that texts remain clear and understandable to readers. To this end, the faculty-level equal opportunity committee issues recommendations for gender-neutral formulations (or reformulations), dual references and group formulations.

Download as a PDF