Providing manifold opportunities and using full potential!

As an inclusive university, it is natural for TU Dresden to acknowledge and promote diversity. Therefore, to improve participation at our university, it is vital to not only react to problems and obstacles but also to proactively take measures to create the conditions for a positive environment that fosters this goal. To this end, funds were made available to promote equality and diversity at TU Dresden for the year 2022. A selection committee selected innovative ideas for new measures as well as already existing projects for funding.

Projects funded in 2022

Faculty of Psychology postdoc initiative for the School of Science

The aim of the Postdocini Network is to establish a network for all postdocs working at the Faculty of Psychology and eventually the entire School of Science who are in the qualification phase. The aim is to provide opportunities for exchanging experiences, providing mutual support and initiating research collaborations, especially - but not exclusively - for postdocs and postdocs with family responsibilities. Support for an equivalent flow of information for all postdocs should also be supported. In order to achieve this, an platform for dialogue will be established and regular meetings will be held in person or virtually (3x/semester) to exchange information and experiences. Here, questions about Habilitation and application and appointment procedures can be clarified and individual help with structural challenges for postdocs and postdocs with family responsibilities will be available. Approximately twice a year, events with invited professors (short talks, Q&As, strategies for dealing with challenges) will be organized. Additional events are planned. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Hanna Kische () or Dr. Judith Schäfer ().

Digitalization and networking of the FrauenUmweltNetzwerk* (FUN*) of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences in the context of the pandemic

FUN* (FrauenUmweltNetzwerk) at TU Dresden sees itself as a platform for students and employees working in STEM+ at TU Dresden. Our goal is to support gender equality and promote diversity at the university and beyond. In addition to networking meetings and excursions, the offer consists of diverse educational events such as workshops and seminars for personal development. Our newsletter provides information about events and job postings for subject-related internships and student/research assistant positions. Since FUN* has also set the goal of addressing international, English-speaking students and employees of the TU Dresden in the future, we are working to establish bilingual programs in order to further expand participation opportunities. For 2022, the goal is to include bilingual continuing education and networking opportunities in the FUN* program, as well as to make the website and social media posts available in both German and English. If you have any questions, please contact the FUN* team ().

Including diversity in teaching at the Medical Interprofessional Training Center (MITZ)

Students of human medicine, dentistry and midwifery train communicative skills at the Medical Interprofessional Training Center with the help of actors. An initial analysis shows that their role descriptions are frequently stereotypical and not very diverse. In this project, the current state of the population living in Germany will first be described in terms of social demographics, or dimensions of diversity, and then compared with the role descriptions in MITZ. The goal is to first develop recommendations for the MITZ where all population groups are made visible in the context of training, without changing the learning objectives of the individual teaching units. If you have any question please contact Anne Röhle ().

Inclusive study orientation - support for inclusion assistants and teachers

TU Dresden grows through the diversity of all its members and is committed to the idea of inclusion. This means thinking about the fair, non-discriminatory and self-determined participation of people with disabilities and chronic illnesses in all issues within the university to contribute to the development of an inclusive university. In this context, prospective students with disabilities receive support in their transition to university. To ensure that teachers, inclusion assistants, and parents who advise students with disabilities are aware of and take advantage of the support services available, the TU Dresden central contact point for schools invites them to a networking event in the fall of 2022. The event will provide interested teachers with background information about the inclusive construction and building design at TU Dresden and become familiarized with support, service and information options for first-year students with disabilities. Further information can be found on the following Website. You are also welcome to contact us at so that we can send you an invitation to our networking event.

Into the spotlight

It is a well-known fact that women and other underrepresented groups are nominated significantly less frequently for prizes and awards, which reduces their international visibility and recognition. The goal of the "Into the spotlight" project is to initiate systemic change in the nomination procedures of women and minorities at TUD for local, national and international prizes and awards. Specifically, the project aims to build a comprehensive database of awards and prizes for various disciplines and to work with Equal Opportunity Officers to develop and propose new guidelines for nominations within the various fields to promote equal advancement of women and minorities. If you have any questions please contact professor Yana Vaynzof ().

Refugee Law Clinic Dresden

Student advisors from the Refugee Law Clinic Dresden offer refugees free legal advice in asylum and residence law. In order to become advisors for the RLC, students undergo one year of training comprising lectures, exercises and a four-week internship. Currently, the RLC provides counseling up to four days a week at various counseling centers in Dresden. There is also an online consultation hour, particularly aimed at those seeking advice who do not live in Dresden. In addition to counseling, which is the main focus, we have also made it our goal to provide education on the topics of flight and migration. For more detailed information, please visit https://tu-dresden.de/gsw/der-bereich/profil/zentren/zfi/forschung-und-praxis/refugee-law-clinic

German Sign Language courses for students and employees at TU Dresden: When hands learn to speak...

Gestures, facial expressions and signs have always been associated with language all over the world and are an essential part of communication. For most people, language is defined by hearing and speaking, but physical gestures in particular can be used to convey and effect an immense amount. However, in dialogue with other cultures, this can also quickly lead to misunderstandings because gestures and facial expressions, like languages in general, have cultural connotations. Every language is accompanied by gestures and signs. Although sign language has been used for over centuries, German Sign Language has only been recognized as a language in its own right since 2002. Starting in the summer semester of 2022, three sign language courses (2 introductory courses and 1 consolidation course) will be offered to TUD students and employees at different times on various days of the week (60 minutes per session), providing the opportunity to learn basic German Sign Language. The courses will make participants aware of communication differences (e.g. the interaction of speech and facial expressions) and enable them to acquire the finger alphabet as well as to get to know individual signs for daily (professional) practice. More information at: https://tu-dresden.de/diversity/gebaerdensprachkurs
Contact: Diversity Management, Anna Drum, Coordinator for Inclusion
Email:

The next call for projects in 2023 will be published in June 2022.

For further information please do not hesitate to contact us!