The central Equal Opportunity Officer and her representatives in the faculties support the university in the implementation of the statutory equal opportunity mandate and offer members of the university advice on the various aspects of equal opportunity. In particular, they participate in the university's development planning as well as in structural and personnel decisions.

In addition to promoting equality at the university, Equality is also committed to improving the compatibility of family, studies and career. To this end, on the one hand, various continuing training and qualification measures are carried out for university employees and counseling is offered. In cooperation with the Office for Equal Opportunity, the Compatibility Department also offers advice on childcare, caring for relatives, studying and working with children, and family-related issues.

Orientation measures on studies and apprenticeships at the Hochschule Niederrhein are organized for pupils to help them broaden their perspectives and make their decision on their future career path detached from traditional gender roles.

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

As an equal opportunity provider, we offer concrete support services both centrally and in the faculties for university employees with care and family responsibilities, as well as gender-equitable working conditions and career opportunities.

Family friendliness and gender equality are an ongoing process for us. That's why we strengthen offerings that contribute to this and develop new solutions as needed.

Representatives from administration, teaching education, research, elected students and employees form the Equal Opportunity Commission of the University. Together, they support the work of equality at the Hochschule Niederrhein with their everyday experiences and competencies, each for one term of office.

The members meet regularly with the Equal Opportunities Officer and her representative to discuss open issues, new topics and develop projects.

In its meeting on February 4, 2019, the Senate of the Hochschule Niederrhein adopted the currently valid framework plan for gender equality (please insert link to framework plan). This specifies the use of gender-equitable language in both internal and external communication.

Because we want to be consistent in gender-inclusive writing across the university, we have written this handout. It sets out rules and makes suggestions on how we would like to use gender-inclusive wording in the future. Existing documents do not need to be revised immediately; here, it is sufficient to use gender-inclusive language in the next edition or revision.

If you have any questions, Equal Opportunity and the University Communications department will be happy to assist you.

Yours, Dr. Sandra Laumen
Equal Opportunity Officer

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

For the area of compatibility, in addition to the strategic handling of the topic by the Equal Opportunities Officer, the family service represents a fixed offer at the Hochschule Niederrhein. At both locations, offers are made to promote the compatibility of studies as well as career and family responsibilities. This includes the possibility of counseling, the arrangement of U3 places in Krefeld and Mönchengladbach as well as the provision of general information on the childcare landscape, the offer of parent-child workrooms as well as breastfeeding and nappy-changing rooms, information on parent-child parking spaces and play corners in the library.

Information and contacts are also provided on all aspects of caring for relatives.

If you have any questions or ideas, please contact the Equal Opportunities Officer at gleichstellung(at)hs-niederrhein.de and the family service at familienservice(at)hs-niederrhein.de.

STEM Degree programmes today are more vibrant, diverse and exciting than ever before and far from typical stereotypes. Nevertheless, the number of women in technical, scientific Degree programmes is still low. The MINT Forum is a network that connects women within the university as well as facilitates contacts to the regional economy.

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.

Below we have compiled important documents / downloads and links for you.

• General
  • CEWS, Center of Excellence Women and Science, Competence Centre Women in Science and Research
  • Home phone - we'll get you home safely (more information at: https://heimwegtelefon.net/)
  • Short film "Women professors - Where are you?" by Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences
• Counseling
  • Counseling services at The Hochschule Niederrhein
  • Help hotline - Violence against women
  • Help hotline - Violence against men
  • proFamilia
  • Düsseldorf Student Union
  • Telephone counselling service
  • White Ring
  • Alliance against cyberbullying (further information at: www.buendnis-gegen-cybermobbing.de)
  • Counselling and help with online hate from HateAid
• Flyers / Brochures
  • Equality at The Hochschule Niederrhein(Flyer)
  • Writing in a gender-appropriate way. A handout of the presidium.
• Laws and regulations
  • Appointment regulations of The Hochschule Niederrhein
  • Gender Equality Act for the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (Landesgleichstellungsgesetz - LGG)
  • Basic Regulations of The Hochschule Niederrhein
  • Higher Education Act of North Rhine-Westphalia
  • Framework Plan for Gender Equality at the Hochschule Niederrhein / Equality Plans of the Faculties
• Ministries and authorities
  • Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
  • Gender Mainstreaming
  • European Commission for Equality between Women and Men
• Networks
  • Federal Conference of Women's and Gender Equality Representatives at Universities e.V.
  • Equality office of the city of Krefeld
  • Equal Opportunity Office of the City of Mönchengladbach
  • Promotionsnetzwerk NRW (graduate network)
  • Alliance for Diversity in STEM Professions
  • State Conference of Equal Opportunity Officers at Universities and University Clinics in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia - LaKof NRW
  • Network for Women's and Gender Studies NRW
  • VDI - Women in Engineering (further information at: www.vdi.de/aktivitaeten/netzwerke/frauen-im-ingenieurberuf)

The work of Equality ensures quality and promotes a culture of appreciation and tolerance. In addition, students, prospective students, and university employees are supported in issues relating to the compatibility of family and studies/career.

In this way, we create better framework conditions, especially for women. Together, we can work more effectively to eliminate existing disadvantages and help realize substantial equality of opportunity.

If you are affected by disadvantages or discrimination, please contact us or send us an e-mail - we will help!

The Equal Opportunity Team includes the central Equal Opportunity Officer, the head of the MINT Forum and MINT-DUAL, the Equal Opportunity Officers of the faculties and the Equal Opportunity Commission.

Do you have a suggestion or a question?

Feel free to write us via the contact form! We will answer you as soon as possible.