Anti-Racism Workshop
Due to given social developments and necessities, the Prorectorate for Academic Careers and Equal Opportunities has set itself the task of taking a look at structures in which - regardless of individual intentions - racism can be institutionally reproduced. The aim is to initiate a long-term process critical of racism and participatory, which will make it possible to change structures at the University of Cologne in such a way that inequalities of opportunity are reduced. Within the framework of the Critique of Racism Workshop, current problem areas in relation to structural racism at the University of Cologne are to be identified in a processual manner and needs for action are to be developed. It is planned to establish working groups and networks that will deal with the identified problem areas and/or measures in the subsequent process.
As a result of the workshops, the task force Anti racism, which deals with identified problems and actions, was launched in 2023.
If you are interested in participating in the workshop and being informed about its progress, please write to us at: rassismuskritik@verw.uni-koeln.de
5th Workshop on Anti-Racism on July 01, 2025
Tuesday, 01 July 2025, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Neuer Senatssaal, Main Building (Building 100)
As part of the “Critical Perspectives on Racism” workshop series, the Vice-Rectorate for Anti-Discrimination and Equal Opportunities and the University’s Representative for Critical Perspectives on Racism invite you to join a discussion on the topic: “Mental Health of BIPoC* Individuals at the University of Cologne”.
Mental health is a crucial issue in the context of higher education. BIPoC* students and staff often face multiple burdens at universities: structural racism, microaggressions, insecurity in academic spaces, and the constant pressure to prove themselves. These factors can lead to chronic stress, exhaustion, and other mental health challenges. At the same time, support and counselling services often lack racism-sensitive approaches. Both research and society increasingly recognise the impact of racism on mental health — yet this perspective remains underrepresented in many debates and institutional strategies.
The 5th Workshop on Critical Perspectives on Racism offers a space for shared reflection on the specific challenges BIPoC* students, lecturers, and staff encounter at the University of Cologne. The aim of the workshop is to deepen existing knowledge, identify areas for action, and collaboratively develop strategies for discrimination-sensitive and anti-racist structures and support systems.
The workshop is aimed at teaching staff, researchers, and employees in administration and counselling. We warmly invite you to actively participate in this exchange and help shape a more inclusive and health-promoting university environment for everyone.
Registration: The event is limited to 60 participants. Please only register if you can attend the entire workshop. The registration deadline is 27 June 2025. All members of the university are warmly invited to attend.
Register here…
Review
4th Anti-Racism Workshop Critique 2024
On 19 June 2024, our 4th Workshop on Critical Perspectives on Racism took place at the Cologne International Forum. We would like to thank Prof. Dr Habbo Knoch for his lecture on provenance research at the University of Cologne, as well as Halima Kamara, B.A., for her impressive presentation of the decolonial audio tour on the history of the Institute of Ethnology. The workshop provided space for exchange and networking around anti-racist and power-critical perspectives at the University of Cologne. In addition, several university-based groups presented themselves: the Forum Decolonizing Academia, the Anti-Discrimination Working Group of the Autonomous BIPoC Department, and the Autonomous fakE Department.
3rd Anti-Racism Workshop Critique 2022
In our 3rd Workshop Critique of Racism, Prof. Dr. Stephan Michael Schröder presented himself for the first time in his new position as Prorector Academic Career and Equal Opportunities. We were also pleased to welcome the first Rector's Representative for Anti-Racism at the University of Cologne, Prof'. Dr. Katajun Amirpur. This makes the UzK the first university in Germany to establish this representative function for the anti-racism. This was followed by an impulse lecture by Prof. Dr. Karim Fereidooni on the topic of anti-racism in teaching. This workshop also served to network various initiatives that are actively engaged in implementation strategies for anti-racism at the UzK. Individual initiatives first presented themselves, and then there was space for exchange and getting to know each other.