Events
Members of TU Dresden regularly have the opportunity to participate in various empowerment, awareness-raising, and exchange programs.
Current
I See Something You Don’t See – Sinti and Roma in the Spotlight at TUD
Lecture and workshop: “Right-wing populism and right-wing extremism in universities”
Regular offerings
As part of the anti-discrimination work carried out by the Complaints Office, the following programs are offered regularly:
Workshop: Brief practical training on combating discrimination (for students)
Workshop: Violence Prevention and Anti-Discrimination at the University (for staff)
Workshop: Just Isolated Incidents? Dealing with Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Violence at TU Dresden (for students)
Workshop: UniSAFE – Dealing with sexual harassment, discrimination, and violence at TU Dresden (for staff)
Events as part of the International Weeks Against Racism (March/April)
Events as part of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia (May 17)
Events as part of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women/Gender-Based Violence (November 25)
I See Something You Don’t See – Sinti and Roma in the Spotlight at TUD
Roma Day (April 8) is an international day of action and remembrance that commemorates the self-organization of Sinti and Roma and draws attention to their historical and current discrimination.
As part of this and beyond, the TUD Dresden University of Technology is organizing a program of events dedicated to raising the visibility of Sinti and Roma and to critically addressing anti-Gypsy racism.
Lecture and Workshop “Right-Wing Populism and Right-Wing Extremism in Higher Education”
June 16, 2026 // 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM // online
In this lecture, Dr. Christoph Haker and Dr. Lukas Otterspeer will discuss how those affected perceive science-related right-wing populism and right-wing extremism at universities and what strategies they develop to cope with it.
Drawing on the current state of research and the findings of their study “Right-wing Populism and Right-wing Extremism in Higher Education,” Dr. Haker and Dr. Otterspeer focus in particular on the perspectives of students and university staff who have had such experiences.
This reveals a contradictory phenomenon that unfolds through various entry points: ranging from overt attacks and discrimination to positions that appear in the guise of academic argumentation and thus create a sense of connection.
At the same time, the presentation examines how institutional dynamics shape how these issues are addressed and to what extent experiences of speechlessness and isolation can play a role.
The lecture concludes with reflections on possible approaches and invites participants to consider together how universities can be designed as spaces where there is a reflective and action-taking capacity to respond to these challenges.
Against this backdrop, the subsequent workshop provides analytical approaches and practical tools for recognizing and classifying problem situations in one’s own context in a nuanced manner. It will also address how structures, regulations, and institutional processes can contribute to the prevention of and response to far-right influence.
Lukas Otterspeer is an educational scientist at the European University of Flensburg. His research focuses particularly on qualitative social research and addresses social boundary-drawing, social-theoretical questions, as well as right-wing populism and right-wing extremism in education, culture, and academia.
Christoph Haker is a Research Associate at the Institute of Education and the Center for Teacher Education at the European University of Flensburg. His research focuses on social science theory, qualitative social research, research on science, and the analysis of right-wing populism and right-wing extremism in education, culture, and academia.
Registration:
Workshop: Brief Practical Training on Combating Discrimination (for students)
We encounter discriminatory behavior everywhere—it is part of everyday life and does not stop at the lecture halls, the cafeteria, the SLUB, or the office and lab doors of TU Dresden. The spectrum of forms is diverse, ranging from leering glances to gestures, remarks, and text messages, all the way to physical assaults—sometimes more, sometimes less subtle. Despite—or perhaps precisely because of—the prevalence of such situations in our daily academic and professional lives, such incidents often leave us speechless, making us feel powerless and small. To change this, in this workshop we will learn different strategies for setting clear, primarily verbal boundaries against discriminatory behavior—both as those directly affected and as bystanders. Through role-playing exercises, we will test their practical application and thus lay the groundwork for ensuring that future boundary violations are not allowed to go even one step further.
About the Trainer
Maja Steinhaus is a political education consultant and trainer in constructive conflict resolution. Her work focuses on empowering those affected by discrimination and on providing short- and long-term support in building organizational structures that are sensitive to discrimination. Because she knows how difficult it is to actively stand up to discrimination, she dedicates plenty of time and space in her workshops to discussion and—most importantly—practice, practice, practice!
The workshop will be conducted in spoken German in an accessible room.
Workshop: Violence Prevention and Anti-Discrimination at the University (for Employees)
In this interactive digital short workshop for TUD employees, you will gain practical insight into the many facets of harassment, discrimination, and violence in everyday university life. Together, we will create a safe space where you can share and reflect on your experiences—not only to identify challenges but also to develop sustainable, resource-oriented intervention strategies.
Learn the definitions and statistical background of harassment, discrimination, and violence, and understand how these phenomena occur at universities. You will also gain a comprehensive overview of anti-discrimination efforts at TUD, including relevant guidelines and TU Dresden’s counseling and complaint procedures. Through participant-centered exercises, case studies, and self-reflective tools, you will develop your own intervention strategies for everyday university life and reflect on how tolerance, critical thinking, and conflict resolution skills can be strengthened at universities.
The workshop venue is accessible.
About the Trainer
Anja Wiede is the contact person at the TU Dresden’s complaints office for incidents of harassment, discrimination, and violence. She is a certified mediator, trainer in feminist self-assertion, and specialist in combating sexualized violence in the workplace (Inmedio).
Dates:
April 29, 2026 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM Register
May 5, 2026 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM Register
(Additional dates for a separate workshop group can be requested)
Workshop: Just Isolated Incidents? Dealing with Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Violence at TU Dresden (for students)
Imagine you’re sitting in a lecture hall and notice someone being subjected to derogatory and lewd comments because of their gender. What do you think? What do you do?
Sexual harassment, discrimination, and violence are prohibited at TU Dresden. This workshop is therefore open to everyone, as it demonstrates how to intervene actively and safely in such situations.
We’ll start with a clear introduction to key terms and background information that will help you understand sexual harassment, discrimination, and violence in their many forms.
Using examples from everyday university life, you’ll learn about the support services, counseling options, and guidelines available at your university and how they can help you in an emergency.
Through interactive exercises, role-plays, and case studies, you will develop concrete intervention strategies. In the process, you will learn to recognize warning signs early on and to intervene effectively as a courageous bystander—regardless of traditional gender roles.
Through discussions in small groups, you will reflect on your own attitudes, existing biases, and uncertainties. In this way, you will foster an awareness of how each individual can take responsibility to counteract sexualized violence.
About the Trainer
Anja Wiede is the contact person at the TU Dresden’s complaints office for incidents of harassment, discrimination, and violence. She is a certified mediator, trainer in feminist self-assertion, and specialist in combating sexual violence in the workplace (Inmedio).
Dates
May 6, 2026 // 1:00–4:00 PM (German)
May 6, 2025 // 4:00–7:00 PM (English)
(Additional dates for a separate workshop group can be requested)
Workshop: UniSAFE – Addressing Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Violence at TU Dresden (for employees)
Through its active participation in the UniSAFE research project, TU Dresden is addressing the phenomenon of sexual harassment, discrimination, and violence at universities. The workshop begins with a comprehensive overview of key terms, statistical indicators, and the most important findings of the UniSAFE study.
Participants will reflect on their own attitudes and potential biases. The focus is on the various ways to provide support: Even if not everyone is directly affected by sexual harassment, discrimination, and violence, many find themselves in the role of a “bystander.”
In the spirit of shared responsibility, participants develop concrete, personalized intervention strategies to actively and confidently provide support in everyday university life.
About the Trainer
Anja Wiede is the contact person at the TU Dresden’s complaints office for incidents of harassment, discrimination, and violence. She is a certified mediator, trainer in feminist self-assertion, and specialist in combating sexualized violence in the workplace (Inmedio).
Dates:
April 29, 2025 // 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (German) To register
May 5, 2025 // 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (English) Register
(Additional dates for a separate workshop group can be requested)
Events as part of the International Weeks Against Racism
© TUD
TU Dresden takes a firm stand against racism and is committed to mutual respect and social cohesion. That is why, since 2022, the university has been participating in the International Weeks Against Racism with various anti-racism and awareness-raising initiatives.
Events as part of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia
May 17 marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia. The day was established in 2004 to draw attention to the violence and discrimination faced by lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, and intersex people—queer individuals with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics—face. After the Progressive Pride Flag was raised for the first time at TU Dresden on May 17, 2022, TU Dresden is also participating with various awareness-raising and empowerment initiatives.
Events as part of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women/Gender-Based Violence
Das Rektorat leuchtet in orange
November 25 has been designated by the United Nations as the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.” Since 2021, TU Dresden has also been participating in this day of action to raise awareness of gender-based violence.