University of Cologne

Diversity Audit „Vielfalt gestalten“ (Shaping Diversity)

Together with ten other universities, the University of Cologne is participating in the Diversity Audit "Vielfalt gestalten" (Shaping Diversity) of the Stifterverband. The aim of the audit is to support the university in developing a strategy that promotes productive and non-discriminatory interaction with students and staff. If the auditing process is successfully completed, the university will receive the certificate "Vielfalt gestalten" (Shaping Diversity) at the end of 2018.

The audit focuses on elements of organisational development and combines these with a participatory approach. All participants and potential stakeholders are involved in the strategy development process. This is possible, for example, within the framework of the four workshops that take place in the course of the auditing process:

1. Kick-Off Workshop (29 March 2017)
2. Strategy and Measures Workshop (19 May 2017)
3. Reflection Workshop (22 March 2018)
4. Final Workshop (30 October 2018)

Since there are already many approaches and offers in the field of gender and diversity at our university, we focus not only on the development of new measures in the audit, but also on a better integration and continuity of existing measures. We make use of the intersectional approach and the perspective of multiple discrimination. The strategy development comprises the three thematic focal points "Inklusion" (Inclusion), "Bildungsgerechtigkeit" (Educational Justice) and "Antidiskriminierung" (Anti-discrimination), which are dealt with in subprojects.

The auditing process will be accompanied by an external auditor, Dr.' Karoline Spelsberg-Papazoglou from the Folkwang University of the Arts.

Further information on the audit and a detailed description of the auditing process can be found in the following documents:

A barrier-free version of the Self Report 2018 can be found in the Barrier-free Downloads section.