12th Diversity Week 2026, from 30 June to 3 July
Based on the theme “You Make the Difference”, we aim to raise awareness of equal opportunities and diversity across the University of Cologne together with all members of our community. Once again this year, we warmly invite lecturers, administrative units, student initiatives and other committed members to contribute their own events and help create a diverse and inspiring programme. You can find the programme with the English-language events as soon as it is finalised at the bottom of this page.
The Diversity Week is organised by the Vice-Rectorate for Anti-Discrimination and Equal Opportunities, together with the Department for Equal Opportunities.
Please sign up for your event(s) here!
To ensure that your events are included with all relevant information in the publicity for Diversity Week, please register them via the online form by 30 April 2026.
Click here for the registration form!
Diversity keynote with Gilda Sahebi "Verbinden statt Spalten"
01 July 2026, 15:30 - 17:00
Aula 2 (Lecture Hall), Main Building (100)
Step-free access and interpretation in DGS
The Vice-Rectorate for Anti-Discrimination and Equal Opportunities, together with the Department for Equal Opportunities, cordially invites you to a keynote lecture by Gilda Sahebi as part of Diversity Week 2026. Entitled "Verbinden statt Spalten" (eng. “Connecting instead of dividing”), the event will take place on 01 July 2026 at 15:30 in Lecture Hall 2 of the Main Building (100).
** We look forward to welcoming you. The event will be interpreted into German Sign Language (DGS). **
If you have any questions, comments, or additional support needs, please contact Referat ChanGe by 12 June so we have enough time to accommodate your needs.
Gilda Sahebi
Gilda Sahebi is a trained medical doctor, political scientist and journalist. She works as a freelance writer on socio-political issues such as racism, antisemitism, human and women’s rights, questions of social cohesion and democracy, as well as political developments in the Middle East. Her analyses and commentaries are published in outlets including taz, Der Spiegel and various programmes of Germany’s public broadcaster ARD. Particular attention has been drawn to her work on the political situation in Iran, the protest movements there, and the regime’s responses. She is currently focusing closely on recent developments and the escalation in the Middle East.
Gilda Sahebi completed her journalistic training at Bayerischer Rundfunk. She has since worked, among other roles, as an author and editor for Neo Magazin Royale and as project lead for the “No Hate Speech Movement” at Neue deutsche Medienmacher*innen.
Alongside her journalistic work, she is also active as an author, publishing books on democracy, social cohesion and discrimination. In Unser Schwert ist Liebe (2023), she examines the feminist revolt in Iran; in Wie wir uns Rassismus beibringen (2024), she analyses debates on discrimination in Germany; and in her most recent book, Verbinden statt spalten (2025), she explores the dynamics of social polarisation and outlines ways to recognise and overcome divisive narratives — issues that are also at the heart of her keynote at our event.
In her lectures and public engagements, Gilda Sahebi communicates her analyses and complex political and social contexts in a clear and nuanced way. As an analyst of power structures, conflicts and social cohesion—both internationally and locally—she contributes to informed public debate in a pluralistic society. She also regularly shares her perspectives online via her social media channels and the podcast Gilda con Arne, reaching a broad and diverse audience.
We are delighted to welcome Gilda Sahebi to the University of Cologne as the keynote speaker for this year’s Diversity Week.
Café ChanGe
Ahead of the keynote event, we would like, as in the previous year, to create a space for exchange and dialogue at the Café ChanGe on 1 July 2026, from 12:00 to 15:00, in the Dozenten-Café of the main building (100). This informal gathering is intended to bring together engaged members from across a range of diversity areas, offering an opportunity to connect, start conversations, and learn more about current projects and developments at our university. All those interested are warmly invited to attend.
Contact
Talina Nachtrab (sie/ihr)
Department for Equal Opportunities
E-Mail: t.nachtrab@verw.uni-koeln.de
Tel.: +49 221/470 90788
