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Diversity Weeks
Welcome to the Diversity Weeks 2025
The Diversity Weeks 2025 will take place from 6 - 27 May at Saarland University. Various formats - from panel discussions to networking events - invite you to engage with the topic of diversity and anti-discrimination, to inform yourself and to engage in dialogue. The Diversity Weeks are also sending out a strong signal this year with a focus on antiracism and antisemitism.
The Equal Opportunities and Diversity Management Unit launched the Diversity Weeks in 2022. These weeks mark the university's signing of the Diversity Charter and give the diversity policy a sustainable structure.
The UdS sees itself as a cosmopolitan and tolerant university that values the diversity of its members.
The Diversity Weeks raise awareness of diversity within the university and promote intercultural exchange and understanding of different perspectives and life experiences.
Programme 2025
Accessibility Action Day: “What you can’t spy with your little eye…” – Spotlight on Invisible Disabilities
The European Day of Protest for Equality for People with Disabilities creates events all over Germany. In this context, the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Management Unit is organizing the “Accessibility Action Day” on the Saarbrücken campus on 6. May 2025 in collaboration with the Disability Inclusion Officer, the Disabled Employees' Representative and AStA's Department for Accessibility.
This year's motto is “What you can’t spy with your little eye…” - focusing on non-visible impairments. A wide range of materials will be available at the stand, while hands-on activities will raise awareness of a serious topic in a fun way.
Tuesday, 6 May 2025
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: Campaign stand in front of Building A4 4 (Campus Center)
Language: German | English | French
Hosts: KSB | Disability Inclusion Officer | Schwerbehindertenvertretung | AStA's Department for Accessibility with support of the entire CDM unit and the Diversity Ambassadors
For any questions about the event, please contact ksb(at)uni-saarland.de.
A serious game is a digital game designed not only for entertainment but also for education, training, or raising awareness. By combining playful elements with didactic content, it imparts knowledge, helps identify discrimination, and enhances self-reflection skills.
We are delighted to introduce the Diversity Game UdS – an innovative teaching and learning game developed specifically for Saarland University. This interactive format is tailored to the needs and challenges of our university, inviting all participants to explore the diverse aspects of diversity in a playful way and to gain new perspectives. The Diversity Game UdS provides hands-on opportunities to reflect on real-life situations in academic life and develop valuable skills for engaging with diversity effectively.
The subsequent discussion session offers the chance to ask questions about the Diversity Game UdS and learn more about the services provided by the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management Unit (Diversity Office, Disability Support Service and Family Office).
Speakers: Julian Kohlbrecher | Carmen Neis
This event is part of the "BiBo - Beschäftige informieren Beschäftigte online" series .
For more information about this digital information session series and the link to the event, please visit: BiBo – Beschäftigte informieren Beschäftigte online – Homepage (sharepoint.com)
Thursday, 8 May 2025
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Location: Presentation, MS Teams
This event is exclusively for employees of Saarland University.
Language: German
Hosts: Diversity Office
For any questions about the event, please contact diversity(at)uni-saarland.de.
Discrimination occurs in all areas of life, including within universities. To counteract discrimination, it is crucial to first recognise it. But what exactly does discrimination mean in a legal sense?
What rights do students have regarding equal opportunities, participation, and protection from discrimination – and how can they assert them?
Speaker: Behnaz Bleimehl, Antidiskriminierungsforum Saar e.V.
Tuesday, 13 May 2025
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Building A4 4, Room 2.02
Language: German
REGISTRATION: Please register for the event via this LINK (max. 25 participants).
NOTE: This workshop is exclusively for students. In October 2025, it will also be offered for employees. If you are interested in the workshop for employees, send us an early bird email at diversity(at)uni-saarland.de.
Accessibility: The room is accessible without barriers.
Hosts: Antidiskriminierungsforum Saar e.V. | Diversity Office
For any questions about the event, please contact diversity(at)uni-saarland.de.
As part of the synagogue tour, students and staff of Saarland University will receive an introduction to the history of the Jewish community in Saarbrücken.
Jewish customs and traditions will be explained through the structure of a synagogue. In addition, ritual objects from Jewish religious practice will be presented to further illustrate and deepen the explanations.
In cooperation with the Synagogue Community Saar.
Tuesday, 13 May 2025
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Meeting spot: Synagogue Saarbrücken, Beethovenplatz
Language: German
Registration & ORGANISATION:
Due to security measures, registration is required (max. 25 participants). The registration deadline is 12 May 2025 at 6 pm.
Please bring your ID card, passport, and/or, if applicable, your dgti supplementary ID card along with your ID card for verification.
There will be a security check before entry to the synagogue. Bags or mobile phones are not allowed inside the synagogue; please reduce the number of items you bring with you as much as possible.
Male visitors are kindly asked to bring a head covering. Kippahs are also available for loan.
Accessibility: The synagogue is accessible via a ramp. Unfortunately, accessible (wheelchair-friendly) toilets are not available.
Hosts: Diversity Office in cooperation with Synagogengemeinde Saar
For any questions about the event, please contact diversity(at)uni-saarland.de.
What does diversity mean – and how do we shape it in the university environment?
The workshop offers insights into the work of the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Management Unit at Saarland University and provides key concepts related to diversity, equal opportunities, and anti-discrimination. It will cover fundamental terms such as unconscious bias, everyday racism, and bias, and encourage collective reflection on these topics.
Wednesday, 14 May 2025
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Non-public event
Language: German
Hosts: Diversity Office | Transform4Europe
The Queer Lunch Break for Employees is open to all UdS staff members who identify as queer or wish to show their support as allies. During a relaxed walk, with a focus on meeting and networking, participants will have the opportunity to exchange ideas. The chosen route is barrier-free, making it accessible for people with physical impairments.
I am queer myself. Do I have to come out at the event? No. It is entirely up to each participant whether and how much they wish to disclose about themselves.
International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex-, Trans-, Ace- and Abinaryphobia (IDAHOBITA on 17 May) The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex-, Trans-, Ace- and Abinaryphobia (IDAHOBITA) has been observed annually on 17 May since 2005 by queer individuals and their allies to raise awareness of discrimination against queer people. The date was chosen to commemorate 17 May 1990, when the World Health Organization (WHO) decided to depathologise homosexuality.
Wednesday, 14 May 2025
Time: 12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
Meeting spot: Green area between C7 2 and C7 4
Languages: German | English | French
Host: Diversity Office
Support: Queer Working Group
For any questions about the event, please contact diversity(at)uni-saarland.de.
The Round Table offers students with disabilities or chronic illnesses the opportunity to connect, network, and share experiences. It is also a chance to get to know the team and work of the Disability Support Service as well as the Student Council of the Medical Department. The event is supported by the AStA Department for Accessibility.
Wednesday, 14 May 2025
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Homburg Campus, Building 35, Seminar Room 2
Languages: German | English
Accessibility: The room is accessible without barriers.
For any questions about the event, please contact ksb(at)uni-saarland.de.
The Family Picnic at UdS welcomes all staff, guests, and students, along with their families. In celebration of the International Day of Families, we aim to highlight the diversity of family life on our campus.
Under the motto "Time for us: Living family," we warmly invite all parent-child communities, including single parents, patchwork families, rainbow families, and traditional families. Families can connect and exchange experiences in a relaxed atmosphere while enjoying their own snacks and drinks. Babysitters will be on hand to provide childcare, fun, and games. We look forward to a vibrant and diverse gathering!
In good weather, the event will take place on the central campus lawn. In case of bad weather, it will be held in Building A4 4 (Campus Center), Room 2.02.
The Family Picnic is a collaborative event organised by the Family Office of the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Management Unit, the International Relations Division – Welcome Center, and the Max Planck Institutes on the Saarbrücken Campus.
Thursday, 15 May 2025
Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: Central campus lawn
Languages: German | English | French
REGISTRATION: For better planning of childcare, we kindly ask you to register in advance. Click here for the registration form.
Spontaneous visitors are also very welcome!
Hosts: Family Office, Welcome Center | Max Planck Institutes Saarbrücken
with the support of the Diversity Office
For any questions about the event, please contact familie(at)uni-saarland.de.
Despite National Socialist persecution and the Shoah, Jewish people returned to the Saar region immediately after the Second World War. The first post-war synagogue on German soil was built in the “teilautonomen Saarstaat”. This small Jewish community has grown considerably since the 1990s due to immigration from Eastern Europe.
The event focuses on Jewish life in the region from 1945 to the present day. What continuities and disruptions can be identified? What do we actually mean when we talk about “Jewish life”? How varied, how diverse is it? What conflicts were and are there, and what are the challenges of the present and future? We want to discuss these and similar questions on the podium and with the audience.
Greetings:
Prof. Dr Robert Ernst, Vice-President for Research and Outreach, Saarland University
Uwe Conradt, Mayor of the State Capital Saarbrücken
Panel discussion:
Benjamin Chait, Synagogengemeinde Saar
Dr. Frank Hirsch, Dokumentationszentrums der Arbeitskammer des Saarlandes
Petra Melchert, RIAS Saarland / Recherche- und Informationsstelle Antisemitismus Saarland
Leah Rajchlin, Projektleiterin Kulturfestival Jiddisch Woch Saarbrikn
Moderation:
Prof. Dr. Fabian Lemmes, Professur für Kultur- und Mediengeschichte (UdS)
Tuesday, 20 May 2025
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Lesecafé at Saarbrücken City Library, Gustav-Regler-Platz 1
Language: German
Accessibility: The room is accessible without barriers.
The "UdS im Dialog" event series is part of Saarland University's Third Mission approach. Through its expertise in research and teaching, the university actively contributes to social discourse beyond the boundaries of its campus.
Hosts: Saarland University | CDM
In cooperation with Saarbrücken City Library.
For any questions about the event, please contact diversity(at)uni-saarland.de.
Getting off the carousel of thoughts: this short break is about pausing, taking a deep breath and clearing your head. Small impulses, exercise and a protected setting help to refocus - for more clarity and inner peace in everyday (university) life.
The format is aimed exclusively at professors.
On 23 May from 12 pm to 2 pm, we invite you to a lunchtime break in the campus forest - with short mindfulness exercises, discussions in a relaxed atmosphere and a snack break together outdoors.
Friday, 23 May 2025
Time: 12:00 - 14:00
Location: Meeting spot: In front of building B6 6
Registration is not necessary. However, expressions of interest will help us to organise the snack break.
Hosts: A joint event organised by the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Management Unit together with the PPB, the „Betrieblichen Sucht- und Sozialberatung“, the „Schwerbehindertenvertretung“ and the inclusion representative.
For any questions about the event, please contact diversity(at)uni-saarland.de.
Studying with Family, with Disabilities, or Other Diversity Characteristics – Is That Even Possible?
Absolutely! Saarland University offers a range of support and is constantly developing new ideas. Visit our stand for useful information—and this year, we also have a special activity for children.
We look forward to welcoming visitors of all ages!
Saturday, 24 May 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Central campus lawn
Language: German | English | French
For any questions about the event, please contact diversity(at)uni-saarland.de
The Walk & Talk about Depression event is aimed at students who experience depression or are affected by other mental health conditions. This low-threshold offering provides an opportunity for mutual exchange through a shared walk.
Monday, 26 May 2025
Time: 2:30 P.M.
Meeting spot: Green area between C7 2 and C7 4
Languages: German | English
Hosts: Disability Support Service
For any questions about the event, please contact ksb(at)uni-saarland.de.
Ceremonial Event in Celebration of German Diversity Day
Social background still significantly influences access to higher education and students' academic journeys. Those from non-academic family backgrounds—so-called First-Generation Students—often face unique challenges. Organisations like ArbeiterKind.de work to support, connect, and empower these students.
Saarland University is also committed to fostering a discrimination-free campus through the Charta der Vielfalt and actively promotes the inclusion of all talents. But how can First-Generation Students successfully navigate higher education? What barriers must be overcome, and what can universities and policymakers do to break them down?
These questions will be at the heart of our symposium, and we warmly invite you to join us. Together, we aim to develop ideas on how to better support the potential of these students and create equal opportunities for all.
Greeting:
Estelle Klein-Frey, Leiterin der Stabsstelle Chancengleichheit und Diversitätsmanagement der Universität des Saarlandes
Keynote Speech:
Katja Urbatsch, Co-Founder and Managing Director of ArbeiterKind.de
Short Portraits of Role Models: Succeeding as a First-Generation Student:
Prof. Dr. Alexander Titz, Professor of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Saarland University
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Laura Aradilla Zapata, Junior Professor of Molecular Cell Biophysics at Saarland University
Moderation:
Tamara Wagner, Equal Opportunities and Diversity Management Unit at Saarland University
Panel discussion:
Jakob von Weizsäcker, Minister of Finance and Science of Saarland
Katja Urbatsch, ArbeiterKind.de
Prof. Dr. Raimund Seidel, Vice-President for Strategy and Sustainable Development of Saarland University
Moderation:
Dörte Grabbert, Press Officer of Arbeitskammer des Saarlandes
Afterwards: Get-together with snacks and drinks
Tuesday, 27 May 2025
Time: 4:00 P.M.
Location: Building C7 4, Conference room 1.17
Language: German
Please find the link to the flyer here.
Registration: Please register by 20 May 2025 with KoWA: E-Mail: kooperationsstelle@uni-saarland.de Telephone: 0681 302-4802
Accessibility: The room is accessible without barriers.
Hosts: Saarland University | Equal Opportunities and Diversity Management Unit | Kooperationsstelle Wissenschaft und Arbeitswelt | Arbeitskammer des Saarlandes / Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland
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Greeting by Vice-President for Administration and Finance Dr. Roland Rolles
Dear members of the University,
I am pleased to announce the fourth Diversity Weeks, which will take place from 6 to 27 May 2025. The Equal Opportunities and Diversity Management Unit (CDM) cordially invites all employees and students to take part in this diverse programme and together send a strong signal for diversity at Saarland University, with this year's focus on antiracism and antisemitism.
The aim of this series of events is to raise awareness of diversity and anti-discrimination at our university. Within the framework of numerous events organised by the CDM staff unit together with its network partners, all participants have the opportunity to engage with the topics of diversity, equal opportunities and accessibility from different perspectives, to inform themselves and to network.
The programme offers an exciting mix of online formats and on-site events that are open to all UdS employees and students at all locations. Many events are designed in both German and English to cater for as many participants as possible.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in organising the Diversity Weeks. I look forward to a great deal of interest and wish all participants an exciting and enriching time.
Dr. Roland Rolles, Vice President for Administration and Finance