Anti-Discrimination
Universities are fundamentally democratic institutions and see themselves as spaces for free exchange and participation. Nevertheless, universities reflect the wider society and, as such, reproduce the social power relations that privilege certain groups while disadvantaging others. Discrimination can occur both at the individual and at the institutional level.
At the individual level, discrimination refers to behaviour between individuals that excludes or devalues certain persons. Various surveys and studies indicate that discrimination is, in fact, part of the everyday experience of both students and staff within higher education institutions.
At the institutional level, discrimination occurs through the actions of an organisation — that is, through regulations, institutional routines, and organisational culture — by which certain social groups are systematically excluded.
Anti-discrimination work therefore aims, on the one hand, to strengthen structures for addressing cases of discrimination, and on the other, to reduce structural and institutional forms of discrimination. In doing so, the university itself must be recognised as a potential producer of exclusionary processes.
Selected Key Anti-Discrimination Measures
Anti-discrimination institutions, bodies and advice
An overview of all central institutions, bodies and counselling services in the field of anti-discrimination can be found in this portal under the headings institutions and counselling.
Information on different dimensions of discrimination
On the following pages, different forms of discrimination are explained. The dimensions chosen are not complete, but represent a selection of common forms of discrimination. If you have any suggestions, please write to us at: referat-change(at)verw.uni-koeln.de.
And what can I do against discrimination? Information about allyship can be found here.
Statements
Anti-discrimination campaign
Statements from the Universiy Administration
Coordination and Contact
Department for Equal Opportunities
E-Mail: referat-change(at)verw.uni-koeln.de