Equal Opportunities Funding
Table of contents
Members of the School of Science may apply for financial support for activities that serve to implement the equal opportunities mandate in the School.
For now, a total of 40,000 EUR is available in 2025.
There are four allocation rounds per year, the deadlines are February 15th, May 15th, August 15th and November 15th.
Example of previously funded projects
Applying for equal opportunity funding
| 1. | Check, if the planned activity aligns with the goals for using equal opportunity funds as stated in the allocation guidelines. A look at the criteria we use, when allocating equal opportunity funds, might also be useful. The Equal Opportunity Officers of the faculties and the School of Science can help you with questions. |
| 2. | Fill in the application form in its current version electronically and read the privacy policy. For bigger activities an additional letter with a more detailed breakdown of the costs can be usefull. Then send all documents via email to the Equal Opportunity Officer of your faculty. |
| 3. | After the deadline all Equal Opportunity Officers decide jointly on the allocation of the equality funds. Afterwards, you will be informed by the Equal Opportunity Officer of your faculty. |
| 4. | Carry out your activity. We wish you good luck. |
| 5. | After the activity is finished, you first have to sellte the costs as usual with the university administration. Afterwards, fill in the final report and send it via email to the Equal Opportunity Officer of your faculty. |
Outcome of the latest allocation round
On March 13, 2025, the gender equality officers of the five faculties and the department reviewed a total of 21 applications and approved a total funding amount of EUR 18,525. As always, a thorough review was conducted to ensure that the planned measures comply with our funding allocation guidelines.
From the Faculty of Biology, three applications were submitted: one for a travel cost subsidy and two for student events with awareness-raising goals. A total of EUR 1,350 was approved for these requests.
From the Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, two applications for travel cost subsidies were submitted this time. A total of EUR 1,225 was approved for these requests.
From the Faculty of Mathematics, three applications were submitted: one for the Girls' Math Camp, one for a FLINTA* breakfast in mathematics, and one for a travel cost subsidy to participate in the Femtec program. A total of EUR 6,300 was approved for these requests.
From the Faculty of Physics, seven applications were submitted: two for travel cost subsidies for participation in the Femtec program, three for student-organized networking events, one for the Girls' Experimentation Camp, and one for a travel cost subsidy for an international speaker on gender equality and inclusion topics at a scientific workshop. A total of EUR 6,350 was approved for these requests.
From the Faculty of Psychology, six applications were submitted: one for a travel cost subsidy for participation in the Femtec program, one for a general travel cost subsidy, one for a subsidy for the FSR retreat, and three for funding SHK/WHK to support research activities. A total of EUR 3,300 was approved, although one WHK application could not be funded due to insufficient alignment with the department’s gender equality objectives.
There was no application from the School of Science this time.
Annual Report 2024
In 2024, a total of 42 applications for support through gender equality funds were submitted, with a total funding amount of EUR 35,605 approved. Below are some key figures regarding these 42 applications.
As in previous years, applications for individual support accounted for the majority at 57%. However, this proportion has continued to decline compared to the previous year.
The funded measures can be broadly categorized into six types: "travel activities," "own position," "SHK/WHK for research projects," "acquisitions," "teaching," and "event organization." As in previous years, travel activities were the most frequently funded measure in 2024. However, there was a significant increase in applications for event organization compared to previous years.
When we categorize the measures based on which group of people is being supported, we see the groups "HSL", "Postdocs," "PhD candidates," "students," "school students," "MTV", and "multiple groups simultaneously." In 2024, the most applications were submitted for the support of students, followed by applications for supporting multiple groups, Postdocs, and PhD candidates. Compared to the previous year, there was a significant increase in applications for the support of students, which were typically submitted by the students themselves.
Finally, let's take a look at which of the 10 gender equality objectives from the department's gender equality concept were most frequently mentioned in the applications. The graphic shows the numbers based on the applications, with multiple objectives being listed in some applications. The most frequently mentioned objective in 2024 was, by far, Objective 2 (promotion of women's careers in science). This was followed by Objective 9 (communication of gender equality work) and Objective 8 (institutionalization of gender equality work). Compared to the previous year, there was a significant increase in applications for Objective 5 (improved inclusion of people with disabilities) in 2024.
All documents for an application for equality funds
- Guidelines for use of equal opportunity funds in the School of Science (first version from 03.01.2018, in response to the Corona pandemic last revision on 24 June 2020)
- Criteria for the allocation of equal opportunity funds (latest revision on May 22, 2023)
- Application form (last revision on November 22, 2024)
- Privacy policy (last revision on June 21, 2022)
- Final Report (latest revision on April 25, 2023)