Diversity Weeks

Applications are now open for the micro-credential “Collaborative Pathways to Inclusive Education”, promoted by the Faculty of Education and Psychology of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa for the 2025/2026 academic year, within the framework of the Transform4Europe Seed Funding Programme, in partnership with the University of Alicante, Saarland University, and Vytautas Magnus University. 

This micro-credential was designed for higher education professionals and future educators who wish to deepen their knowledge of inclusive practices applied to university and polytechnic contexts. 

Collaborative Pathways to Inclusive Education: May 29 to November 29, 2026 
Workload: 25 asynchronous hours | 1 ECTS 
Learning format: Asynchronous online learning through Blackboard Online Campus & Microsoft Teams 
Teaching language: English 
Target applicants: Applications are open to Higher education faculty members, Researchers, Staff members working directly with higher education students, Students preparing for future higher education teaching careers 
Available places: 60 places 
Members of the T4EU alliance are exempt from paying: application fees & tuition fees 

Important dates 
Application deadline: May 25, 2026 
Results announcement: May 27, 2026 
Program start date: May 29, 2026 

Applications must be submitted through the online platform: Microcredential - Collaborative Pathways for Inclusive Education 
If you have any questions, please contact: digitalelehre@uni-saarland.de or candidaturas.porto@ucp.pt

The Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has led to a rise in visible antisemitism in the context of the Middle East conflict, including in Saarbrücken. This rise of antisemitism has manifested itself particularly in an increase in predominantly antisemitic stickers and slogans—including on the university campus. Many antisemitic symbols and codes are not immediately recognizable as such at first glance. In response, the Diversity Office has developed the guide “Recognizing Antisemitic Imagery,” which helps identify and classify antisemitic symbols—especially in public spaces on stickers and graffiti. In conjunction with this, the event will clarify the different types of antisemitism and how legitimate criticism of the State of Israel can be distinguished from antisemitism.

Speaker: Tamara Wagner, Diversity Coordinator with fokus on anti-discrimination 

This event is part of the series “BiBo - Beschäftige informieren Beschäftigte online” (Employees Informing Employees Online).
For more information about the digital information series and the link to the presentation, please visit BiBo – Beschäftigte informieren Beschäftigte online – Homepage (sharepoint.com) 

Tuesday, May 19 2026
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 am
Place: Lecture, MS Teams | Link under  BiBo – Beschäftigte informieren Beschäftigte online – Homepage (sharepoint.com)
This event is open exclusively to employees of UdS.
Language: German
 
Organizer: Diversity Office
Accessibility Note: The presentation will not be recorded. The slides will be made available afterward. To improve accessibility, automatically generated live captions can be enabled in Microsoft Teams during the event. This feature is available to all participants directly within the meeting. In Microsoft Teams, participants can activate live captions on their own if needed. To do so, click on “More actions → Language and speech → Show live captions” during the meeting. Detailed instructions: Use live captions in Microsoft Teams meetings and Liveuntertitel auf mobilen Geräten (Intranet) 

If you have any questions about the event, please contact diversity(at)uni-saarland.de. 

The exhibition on homosexuality and trans* identity aims to break down barriers and raise awareness. To mark the start of the exhibition, the Catholic University Community KHG Saarbrücken and the Diversity Office are hosting an opening event.

Program:
Musical opening: Matthis Löw Harfe
Welcome with a short talk on the topic “Queer and the Catholic Church”: Katrin Altmaier, KHG Saarbrücken
Short presentation on "IDAHOBITA": Tamara Wagner, Diversity Office
Musical interlude
Reception: exploring the exhibition together while interacting 

Tuesday, May 19 2026
Time 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Place: KHG-Café, building A 3.1
Language: German  

Organizers: KHG Saarbrücken in cooperation with the Diversity Office supported by the LSVD+
Accessibility note: The KHG’s facilities are accessible to people with disabilities, and an accessible restroom is available.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact diversity(at)uni-saarland.de.  

The event will take place on German Diversity Day (https://www.charta-der-vielfalt.de/deutscher-diversity-tag ) and is part of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, Transphobia, Aphobia, and Non-binaryphobia (IDAHOBITA on May 17).   https://may17.org/2026/idahobit2026-theme/ 

The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, Transphobia, Aphobia, and Non-binaryphobia (IDAHOBITA) has been celebrated annually on May 17 since 2005 by queer people and their allies as a day of action to draw attention to discrimination against queer people. The date was chosen to commemorate May 17, 1990, when the World Health Organization (WHO) decided to depathologize homosexuality.  

The exhibition on homosexuality and trans* identity aims to break down barriers and raise awareness.  

Twelve roll-up displays provide visitors with information on the history of homosexuality: Until when were homosexual acts criminalized in Germany? What do the colors of the rainbow flag represent? What do penguins have to do with homosexuality?  

A wealth of interesting, sad, but also humorous information has been visualized in an entertaining way.  The exhibition makes it clear that history is not a linear progression. Its images depict a constant ebb and flow—and serve as a reminder that today’s status quo cannot be taken for granted.

Tuesday, May 19 2026 - Wednesday, June 03 2026
Time: daily from 8:00 am to 6 pm
Place: KHG, bulding A 3.1
Lanugage: German 

Organizer: KHG Saarbrücken in cooperation with the Diversity Office, supported by the Federation Queer Diversity in Germany LSVD+  
Accessibility note: The KHG’s facilities are accessible to people with disabilities, and an accessible restroom is available.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact diversity(at)uni-saarland.de.
For further information, please visit https://lsvd.schule/

Making timely and self-determined legal arrangements is important for people of all ages. It is not only old age, but also accidents, illnesses, and other (unforeseeable) life situations that require legal planning. Legal planning involves drafting a power of attorney or appointing a legal guardian, as well as creating a living will or advance directive. Alongside health and financial planning, it is a key pillar of securing one’s future. 

Legal planning ensures that, in the event you are unable to make decisions for yourself, a designated person can make decisions on your behalf. This requires the transfer of personal rights through a power of attorney or legal guardianship, as well as a living will. Ms. Holz from the “Betreuungsbehörde des Regionalverbandes Saarbrücken” (Guardianship Authority of the Saarbrücken Regional Association) will provide information on the options available and answer questions regarding legal planning.

Speaker: Ursula Holz, Betreuungsbehörde (Guardianship Authority)

Wednesday, May 20 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Place: Lecture, MS Teams | Click here for the EVENT LINK
Language: German 

REGISTRATION: Please register for the lecture using our registration form.

Registration

Organizer: Family Office
Accessibility Note: The presentation will not be recorded.  To improve accessibility, automatically generated live captions can be enabled in Microsoft Teams during the event. This feature is available to all participants directly within the meeting. In Microsoft Teams, participants can activate live captions on their own if needed. To do so, click on “More actions → Language and speech → Show live captions” during the meeting. Detailed instructions: Use live captions in Microsoft Teams meetings and Liveuntertitel auf mobilen Geräten (Intranet)

If you have any questions about the event, please contact familie(at)uni-saarland.de  

The Queer Lunch Break for Employees is open to all UdS employees who identify as queer or who wish to show their support as allies. During a relaxed walk focused on meeting others and networking, participants have the opportunity to chat and connect.

I am queer myself. Do I have to come out at the event? No. It is up to each participant to decide whether and how much they want to reveal about themselves.

Wednesday, May 20 2026
Time: 12:30 pm – approx. 1:15 pm
Meeting point: Lawn between building C7 2 and C7 4  
Languages: German| English | French

Organizer: Diversity Office
Supported by: AK Queer
Accessibility note: The selected route is low-barrier, making it easily accessible to people with physical disabilities.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact diversity(at)uni-saarland.de. 

IAs part of the synagogue tour, students and university employees receive an introduction to the history of the Jewish community in Saarbrücken. The customs and traditions of the Jewish faith are clearly explained using the layout of a synagogue as a guide. In addition, ritual objects used in Jewish religious practice are presented, further illustrating and deepening the explanations.
In cooperation with the Synagogengemeinde Saar (Saar Synagogue Community).

Tuesday, May 26 2026
Time: 3:00 - 4:30 pm
Place : Synagogue Saarbrücken, Beethovenplatz (meeting point)
Language: German
 
REGISTRATION & ORGANIZATION:
Due to security measures, registration is required (max. 25 participants). Please register by May 22, 2026, using our registration form.

Registration
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 entering the synagogue. Bags and cell phones are not permitted inside the synagogue; please minimize what you bring with you as much as possible. Male visitors are asked to bring a head covering. Kippahs are also available to borrow.

Organizer: Diversity Office in cooperation with the Jewish Community Saar 
Accessibility note: The synagogue is wheelchair accessible via a ramp. Unfortunately, there are no wheelchair accessible restrooms.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact diversity(at)uni-saarland.de. 

Information, consultation, and lectures on student financing

How do I finance my studies? What options are available besides BAföG? And how can I finance a study abroad program or my studies as an international student? The “Student Finance Info Day” at Saarland University provides answers to these questions.

The event combines an information fair with short presentations and offers the opportunity to speak directly with experts on topics such as scholarships, BAföG, part-time jobs while studying, and more.
You can find all the information about the event at Student Finance Info Day | Saarland University.

Wednesday, May 27 2026
Time: 2:00 - 5:00 pm
Place: Innovation Center (A2 1)
Language: German, English

Organizer: Central Student Advisory Service in cooperation with the AStA and htw saar
Accessibility note: The Innovation Center’s facilities are accessible to people with disabilities, and accessible restrooms are available.

Promoting Education, Strengthening Families

We welcome all employees, guests, and students, as well as their families, to the family picnic at Saarland University. To mark the Local Alliances for Family’s Day of Action on International Family Day, we want to highlight family diversity on our campus. Under the motto “Promoting Education, Strengthening Families,” we warmly invite all parent-child communities, including single-parent families, blended families, rainbow families, and traditional families. Families can socialize and chat in a relaxed atmosphere while enjoying snacks and drinks they’ve brought along. Babysitters will provide childcare, fun, and games. We look forward to a colorful and diverse gathering!

If the weather is good, the event will take place on the central campus lawn; if the weather is bad, it will be held in building A4 4 (Campus Center), room 2.02.

The Family Picnic is a joint event organized by the Family Office of the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Management Unit, the Department of International Relations – Welcome Center, and the Max Planck Institutes on the Saarbrücken campus.

Thursday, May 28 2026
Time: 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Place: Central campus lawn
Languages: German| English | French

REGISTRATION: To help us plan childcare, we ask that you register in advance. Please use the registration form.

Registration
Last-minute guests are just as welcome!

Organizers: Family Office, Welcome Center | Max-Planck-Institute Saarbrücken
in cooperation with the Diversity Office
Accessibility note: The campus lawn and the alternate venue are both accessible, and accessible restrooms are available.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact familie(at)uni-saarland.de. 

This year, the cross-border Pride SaarLorLux will take place on May 30 and 31, 2026. The motto: “Yes, I do—into the Constitution! Article 3+ now!” The event thus sends a clear signal in favor of the long-overdue amendment to Article 3 of Germany's Basic Law—to include protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Pride SaarLorLux is organized and hosted by the LSVD+ Association for Queer Diversity Saar.

Program highlights:

• Saturday,May 30, 2026: Starting at 3:00 p.m., Mainzer Straße will once again become the “Rainbow Mile,” featuring food and drink vendors, information booths, and interactive activities. In addition, from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., there will be a colorful stage program featuring live acts and a political panel discussion. Saarland-based drag queen Michelle de la Rose will host the evening. Performers on stage will include Lina Bó, Droii, It’s Drag Habibi, and Part of the Art. 

• Sunday, May 31, 2026: The highlight of the weekend is the big pride parade (Christopher Street Day CSD-parade). It starts at 2:00 p.m. in front of the state parliament (Franz-Josef-Röder-Straße). The parade winds its way through downtown Saarbrücken with music, dancing, and political messages. Afterward, the street festival continues on Mainzer Straße, hosted by Karlie Kant. Performers on stage include Henri, Maurice Conrad, Justin Hayo, Angela Lentzen, and Skaver. During a moment of silence, we will join musician Henri in remembering those whom the community has lost.

For further information, please visit https://lsvdsaar.de/csd/
Organizer: LSVD+ Association for Queer Diversity Saar 

What does “diversity” actually mean, and why do we need it? The “Diversity Knowledge Nuggets” cover the essentials of the concept of diversity and its various dimensions in 45 minutes.

Monday, June 01, 2026
Time: 08:30 am
Place:  MS Teams, closed event
Languages: German

The Diversity Knowledge Nuggets can be arranged for your team or group upon request.
For further information, please see our workshop program or send your request via email to diversity(at)uni-saarland.de

The “Walk & Talk about Depression” event is aimed at students who suffer from depression or are otherwise affected by a mental illness. It is a low-threshold opportunity for participants to share their experiences during a group walk followed by a group exchange.   

Monday, June 01, 2026
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Place: Meeting point at lawn between buildings C7 2 and C7 4  
Languages: German| English 

Organizers: Inclusive Education Office
Accessibility note: The selected route is low-barrier, making it easily accessible to people with physical disabilities.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact inklusives-studium(at)uni-saarland.de

The roundtable discussion is an opportunity for students with disabilities or chronic health conditions to come together, network, and share their experiences. It also offers a chance to get to know the team and the work of the Inclusive Education Office, as well as the Medical Student Council. The AStA Department for Accessibility is supporting the event.

Monday, June 01, 2026
Time: from 6:00 pm
Place: Campus Homburg, building 35, Seminarraum N.N.
Languages: German | English

Organizers: Iclusive Education Office, Medical Student Council
Accessibility notice: N.N. 

 If you have any questions about the event, please contact inklusives-studium(at)uni-saarland.de . 

As part of our “A Break for the Mind” series, we invite professors of Saarland University to enjoy a special break in the forest.

Forest bathing (Japanese: Shinrin Yoku) combines exercise, mindfulness, and a conscious slowing down in nature. Spending time in the forest has been proven to have a positive effect on physical and mental well-being: it reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and improves concentration.

The focus is on simple exercises involving breathing, meditation, and sensory awareness that help participants step back from their daily work routine and recharge their energy. The goal is not about performance, but about conscious experience—seeing, hearing, smelling, and feeling.

The program offers a low-treshold access to relaxation and regeneration—no prior experience required, but with lasting benefits.

Organizer: Bernhard Blank
Duration: about 1.5 hours
Group Size: max. 12 persons
Note: Please wear weather-appropriate clothing

REGISTRATION: This event is open exclusively to professors. Please register by May 26 using our registration form.

Registration

Tuesday, June 02 2026
Time: 12:00 - 2:00 pm
Meeting point: In front of building B6 6

Organizers: A joint event organized by the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management Unit, in collaboration with the PPB, the Workplace Addiction and Social Counseling Service (Betriebliche Sucht- und Sozialberatung), and the Disability Advisory Service.
Accessibility note: The selected route is low-barrier, making it easily accessible to people with physical disabilities.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact  diversity(at)uni-saarland.de 

Attitude leads to impact: What matters after German Diversity Day

As part of its nationwide “Charta on Tour” event series, the association Charter der Vielfalt (diversity charter) is making a stop at Saarland University. As part of the 5th Diversity Weeks, the university and the Charter der Vielfalt are jointly inviting representatives from organizations and companies in the region to an exclusive networking event.  

The event focuses on the question of how a clear stance on diversity can lead to concrete and sustainable impact in everyday work life. Building on the momentum of the German Diversity Day on May 19, with this year’s motto “When diversity wins, we all win,” the focus is deliberately on the time that follows: How can ideas be sustained, structures further developed, and effective measures permanently embedded? 

The association Charta der Vielfalt is committed to promoting a prejudice-free work environment in Germany. With over 6,700 signatories from companies and organizations of all sizes and across all industries, it is one of the largest corporate networks for diversity and inclusion in Europe.

Wednesday, June 03 2026
Time: 10:00 - 2:00 pm
Place: Innovation Center  
Language: German

Closed event: The event is aimed at signatories of the Charta der Vielfalt.

Organizers: Diversity Office | Charta der Vielfalt e. V.
Accessibility note: The Innovation Center’s facilities are accessible to people with disabilities, and accessible restrooms are available.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact diversity(at)uni-saarland.de. 

Fresh out of prison, real estate fraudster Thomas learns that he has inherited a house from his mother, whom he has never met—and it’s worth a pretty penny. If he could sell it, nothing would stand in the way of a fresh start in Spain. There’s just one catch: his half-brother Roland lives in the house—a fan of oldies and convertibles, with a steady job and Down syndrome. And because Roland has a lifetime right of residence, Thomas moves in with him without further ado and tries everything he can to force his unloved roommate out of the house. (Source: Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival)

Directed by: Hanno Olderdissen | Cast: Christoph Maria Herbst, Nicolas Randel, Sesede Terziyan

Tuesday, June 09 2026
Time: 7:00 – 8:45 pm| panel discussion after the film
Place: Filmhaus Saarbrücken

TICKETS

PANEL DISCUSSION:
Inclusion is a central component of modern universities and enables students and staff to participate on an equal footing—regardless of individual circumstances. It is reflected in accessible facilities, flexible work models, and targeted support services such as reasonable accommodations or consultation. Faculty members also foster an open learning environment through inclusive teaching methods.

The Saarland University’s commitment to the Special Olympics National Games underscores this understanding of inclusion and sends a clear signal in support of equal opportunity.

Inclusion stands for diversity, respect, and a spirit of mutual appreciation—a topic that will be the focus of the panel discussion following the film.

Panelists:

• Clemente Fernandez-Gil, screenwriter
• Alexander Indermark, President of Special Olympics Saarland
• Reinhold Jost, Minister of the Interior, Housing, and Sports
• Robert Ernst, UdS, Vice President for Research and Social Responsibility
• Estelle Klein-Frey, UdS, Head of hte Equal Opportunities and Diversity Management Unit and  sowie Officer representing the interests of students with disabilities or chronic health conditions

Accessibility note: For information regarding accessibility, please contact Filmhaus Saarbrücken.

An Introduction to Anti-Racist Perspectives

How can faculty members help create a learning environment that is sensitive to discrimination while integrating anti-racist perspectives into their teaching? This workshop offers a practical introduction to addressing racism in higher education settings.
Racist and discriminatory structures are also at work in higher education institutions—often subtly, yet effectively. At the same time, as educational institutions, universities have the potential to create spaces for critical reflection and to help shape social change. The workshop focuses on this dual role: as places of both reproduction and transformation.
Participants will examine their own social positioning and the privileges associated with it. The goal is to raise awareness of anti-racist perspectives in higher education teaching and to develop initial approaches for a reflective, anti-discriminatory teaching practice.

Learning Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
- identify and contextualize dynamics related to racism in the higher education setting;
- critically reflect on their own role and position;
- develop ideas for designing teaching and learning environments that are critical of racism.

Speakers: Dr. Fabienne Korb is a research assistant in the Lehr-Lern-Atelier (teaching and learning studio) of the Institute for Languages and Multilingualism, which is part of the Chair of Romance Linguistics of Prof. Dr. Claudia Polzin-Hauman as part of the learning workshops network (Verbund der Lernwerkstätten VdL). She is active in the UdS Anti-Racism Working Group.  
Maurice Soulié is a freelance speaker on anti-racism and empowerment (funded and contracted by the UdS Anti-Racism Working Group (Cooperation))

Monday, June 15 2026
Time: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Place: Graduate Centre (building C9 3)
Language: German

REGISTRATION:  https://www.uni-saarland.de/einrichtung/zell/arbeitsstelle-hochschuldidaktik/anmeldung-hd.html 

Organizers:Arbeitsstelle Hochschuldidaktik in cooperation with AG Antirassismus
Accessibility note: The rooms in the Graduate Centre are accessible to people with disabilities, and accessible restrooms are available.

For more information on the current curriculum of the Hochschuldidaktik:https://www.uni-saarland.de/einrichtung/zell/arbeitsstelle-hochschuldidaktik/hochschuldidaktik-programm-1.html 

If you have any questions about the event, please contact: https://www.uni-saarland.de/einrichtung/zell/arbeitsstelle-hochschuldidaktik.html