University Culture & Diversity

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Anti-Discrimination and Diversity

We are committed to a participatory, solidary and diverse university. We advocate the principle of zero tolerance towards discrimination, violence and abuse of power in relation to all members of the university.

We state this in our preamble:

We understand diversity as a social reality and as an enrichment for joint learning, teaching education and collaboration. Our thoughts and actions are characterised by a culture of mindfulness, an attitude of recognising different realities of life, solidarity and intersectional awareness.

We oppose all forms of discrimination, violence and abuse of power, especially where different forms of discrimination overlap and reinforce each other, for example through racism, heteronormativism, classism and bodyism. We are aware that intersectional power relations also have an impact in educational spaces. That is why we are committed to structures that enable discrimination-critical thinking, self-reflection and inclusion.

We create spaces in which participation is lived and promote the co-design of teaching and learning processes by students. In doing so, we recognise different requirements, burdens and needs. In order to enable fair participation, we promote equal opportunities through needs-based support and the removal of structural barriers. Our goal is a supportive, participatory and discrimination-sensitive educational environment.

 

A central anti-discrimination office at The Hochschule Niederrhein is currently still being set up.

The task of the anti-discrimination office is to continuously work towards strengthening and developing a university culture that is critical of discrimination and power and to permanently anchor anti-discrimination as a central value in the university context.

It is aimed at all university members who:

  • are themselves affected by discrimination,
  • have observed and/or witnessed discrimination,
  • want to show solidarity and actively oppose discrimination as allies,
  • would like support in recognising their own gaps.

Contact: Antidiskriminierung(at)hs-niederrhein.de

to the Anti-Discrimination Centre

Compatibility of Family and Studies or Career

The Hochschule Niederrhein promotes the compatibility of family and studies or career.

In addition to the strategic handling of the topic by the Equal Opportunities Officer, the family service is a permanent programme at The Hochschule Niederrhein. Offers are made at the various locations to support our university members with family and care responsibilities. These include the possibility of confidential counselling, the arrangement of childcare places, the organisation of meeting formats and our parent-child facilities on the campuses.

Contact: Familienservice(at)hs-niederrhein.de

 

to the Family Service

Contact Person

Wiebke Weissinger (she, her), M.A.
Associate Family Service

Exchange Between Science and Society

In addition to the traditional tasks of universities in studies and teaching education as well as research and transfer, the term Third Mission stands for the exchange of science with society. The Hochschule Niederrhein's Third Mission encompasses a wide range of activities in the areas of knowledge and technology transfer, continuing education programmes and social commitment. Our aim, particularly in the Niederrhein region, is to contribute knowledge to society and to learn from society.

Discover The Hochschule Niederrhein as a place of dialogue and take part in the exchange between science and society. Gain an insight into our knowledge, ideas and discoveries, just as we benefit from your wishes as well as your knowledge and expertise. Join us as a guest student, as a participant in lectures, as a student in workshops, follow our activities or get involved as part of the research with your questions and your expertise. Together we can shape the dialogue.

We cordially invite you to join in and get in contact with us.

to the Third Mission

Contact

Ingrida Dolfen, M.A.
Regional Development and Strategy Officer Head of Future Work Lab Department President

Office hours:

Bettina Hansmeier, Dipl.-Des.
Department of University Culture and Diversity Team Third Mission

Office hours

Dr. rer. nat. Joachim Schick, Dipl.-Biol.
Third Mission Team University Communications
Patrick Wendtland, M.A.
Transformation Designer & Cultural Manager Department of University Culture and Diversity
The Future Work Lab in the heart of Krefeld city centre
The Future Work Lab


The Future Work Lab offers modern co-working and event spaces for our students, teaching staff and employees. Teaching, learning, innovating and networking in the service of sustainable development and in the interplay between science, society and business are trialled in the university's real-world laboratory. We want to seek out and shape the interfaces with all stakeholders in dialogues, workshops and other event formats.

As a university and scientific institution, we want to deliberately place ourselves at the centre of society, also in terms of location. With the branch office, the university is returning to its origins in the city centre. Until 2006, the Werkkunstschule of the former Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences was located on Petersstraße. We want to make ourselves transparent and tangible for everyone with our study programmes, our educational mission and our values.

We hope to arouse curiosity and interest and to become part of our community. We hope that the Future Work Lab will significantly revitalise Krefeld's city centre in and around the Behnisch-Haus, which we would also like to promote through close cooperation with the business development agency and joint campaigns with the surrounding catering establishments.

to the Future Work Lab

Counselling for Prospective Students

The Central Student Advice Centre (ZSB) is the first point of contact for all questions relating to studies. We advise pupils, prospective students, parents and teachers.

We tailor our counselling to the individual needs and personal situation of those seeking advice. Counselling is open-ended.

At both campuses (Krefeld South Campus and Mönchengladbach Campus), we offer advice on all degree programmes offered by The Hochschule Niederrhein.

Contact: Student Advice@hs-niederrhein.de

 

 

to the Central Student Advice Centre (ZSB)

Contact Persons

Nina Best, M.A.
Student Advice, School coordination
Bernie Dann, M.Ed.
Academic counseling
Nina Ilina, BA.
Student advisory service, internal events
Katinka Ingenhoven-Traue, M.A.
Student Advice, Fair Organization
Dilek Tekin, M.A.
Student Advice Management Scholarship advice

Promoting Talent at The Hochschule Niederrhein

Under the motto "Hochschule Niederrhein - Your way", the NRW talent scouting team at HSNR supports and accompanies talented individuals in Krefeld, Mönchengladbach and the district of Viersen.

With its talent scouting programme, the university is joining a network of colleges and universities that aims to open doors for people and pave the way to a professional future that suits them individually.

By participating in the NRW talent scouting programme, we at The Hochschule Niederrhein would like to

  • make a contribution to more equal opportunities in education
  • open doors for people and pave the way to an individualised professional future
  • support the development of talents and potential in young people, regardless of their
    parental home.

Contact: Talentscouts(at)hs-niederrhein.de

on Talent Scouting

Contact Persons

Moana Hofmann, B.A.
Talentscout
Laura Köhnen, B.A.
Talent scout
Stephanie Patzner, M.A.
Talent scout
Dilek Tekin, M.A.
Student Advice Management Scholarship advice

AGG Counselling and Complaints Office

The General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) aims to prevent or eliminate discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual identity.

The Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR) has implemented the requirements of the AGG in its own AGG guideline, which on the one hand regulates the procedure at the HSNR, but on the other hand also extends the scope of application of the AGG. The AGG actually applies to the relationship between employers and employees. However, the HSNR wants to protect everyone within its sphere of responsibility and influence from discrimination, harassment and/or violence in the best possible way. The AGG guideline therefore also applies to students, contractors and guests, both on HSNR premises and in its events, as well as events in which people participate in their function for HSNR and the digital space for which HSNR is responsible.

The AGG Counselling and Complaints Office (AGG Office) is responsible for handling AGG-related issues throughout the university. Those seeking advice are informed about their rights and options in a counselling session. This can be followed by a complaints procedure. It is possible to choose between a female or male contact person.

Of course, this does not affect the option of contacting the Equal Opportunities Officer, the representative of the severely disabled or a relevant staff representative.

Contact: agg-stelle(at)hs-niederrhein.de

 

Anna Stenzel-Mahvash, Dipl. jur., Ass. jur.
Legal Counsel
Kerstin Anklam, LL.M.
Legal Counsel
David Barbatello-Pape, MLIS
Deputy Library Director

Equality

The central Equal Opportunities Officer and her representatives in the faculties support the university in implementing the statutory equal opportunities mandate and offer members of the university advice on the various aspects of equal opportunities. In particular, they are involved in the university's development planning and in structural and personnel decisions.

In addition to promoting equality at the university, the Equal Opportunities Office is also committed to improving the compatibility of family, studies and career. To this end, various continuing education and qualification measures are carried out and advice is offered to university members. In cooperation with the family service, the reconciliation department also provides a counselling centre to answer questions about childcare, caring for relatives, studying and/or working with children and family-related issues.

Orientation measures on studies and apprenticeships at The Hochschule Niederrhein are organised for pupils to help them broaden their perspectives and make decisions about their future careers, free from traditional gender roles

As an employer, The Hochschule Niederrhein supports its employees and students in achieving a better balance between family, work/studies and career. Good framework conditions and a family-friendly, appreciative culture create the necessary prerequisites.

Family friendliness and gender equality are an ongoing process for us. That is why we are strengthening programmes that contribute to this and developing new solutions where necessary.

Contact: gleichstellung(at)hs-niederrhein.de

Dr. Sandra Laumen, Dipl.-Wirt.-Ing.
Equal Opportunity Officer
Jacqueline Kiefer, B.A.
Equal opportunities employee

PrideProgress@HSNR

The Hochschule Niederrhein as a trailblazer offers many paths and opportunities for its members. With "PrideProgress@HSNR", the university creates space for all employees and students who feel part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

The "PrideProgress@HSNR" network connects employees and students across the university. It offers a platform and safe space for sharing experiences and mutual support. The initiative aims to represent the LGBTQIA+ community inside and outside the university and sees itself as a mouthpiece for queer issues. The surname "PrideProgress" also stands for the representation of the queer BIPOC community.

All employees and students who feel addressed by this offer are invited to join the network via the contact form and help shape it.
We, the project group consisting of employees and students, have launched the network. We are where the threads come together. We also see ourselves as contact persons for this network.

Dr. Sandra Laumen, Dipl.-Wirt.-Ing.
Equal Opportunity Officer
President Dr Thomas Grünewald signing the charter
Diversity Charter

We live and value diversity at our university. We also express this in our commitment to the Diversity Charter.

We raise awareness of the diversity of students and staff and develop measures to fulfil their requirements in university life.

Diversity Audit "Shaping diversity"

As part of the Stifterverband's “Shaping Diversity” diversity audit, we have developed a variety of ways to make diverse groups of people and their interests visible and support them in everyday university life. We are now gradually implementing these tools and measures.

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