Events

Exchange and networking for a family‑friendly community

The Family Office at Saarland University promotes exchange and networking on all aspects of balancing studies, academia, work and family responsibilities.
Through a range of events and activities, we create spaces for interaction for students, staff and their families – both on campus and online.
Together with our partners, we initiate ideas for a family‑friendly university culture and warmly invite you to explore our programmes.

Work-life balance weeks

Since 2023, the Family Office has organised the “Work-life balance weeks” every November. The focus is on balancing work or studies with care responsibilities. The aim of the campaign weeks is to raise awareness of the challenges involved in reconciling studies, work, and private life, and to draw attention to the wide range of family-friendly measures offered by Saarland University. Taking into account the individual needs of staff and students with care responsibilities is a firmly established part of the university’s family-friendly culture.

Together with its network partners, the Family Office offers events that explore topics such as reconciliation, family justice, and equal opportunities from various perspectives.

Here you will find further information, the complete programme, and details of past events.

Work-life balance weeks

 
Eltern-Café@UdS | Parent Café

The Parent Café is an online networking initiative offered by the Family Office. It provides interested parents with the opportunity to exchange ideas with one another and also serves as a direct point of contact with the Family Office.

What does the Eltern-Café@UdS offer?

  • A protected space for informal exchange
  • Tips and shared experiences on everyday life with children at the university
  • Networking with other parents from both study and work contexts
  • Space for questions, mutual support, and shared topics
  • Information on internal university as well as external events

Who can take part?

All students and members of staff at the university with children are welcome – regardless of the children’s age or the participants’ study or employment status.

How does participation work?

The Parent Café@UdS takes place asynchronously via Microsoft Teams – you can read along, join discussions, or simply drop in whenever it suits you.
There are no fixed meeting times – the space is available permanently.

You can access the Teams group here:  Eltern-Café@UdS

 
Family picnic

At the Family Picnic at Saarland University, we warmly welcome all staff members, guests, and students, as well as their families. As part of the Diversity Weeks, we invite all parent–child communities during the summer semester, including single-parent families, blended families, rainbow families, and traditional families. With snacks and drinks brought along by participants, families can meet and exchange ideas in a relaxed atmosphere. Childcare, fun, and games are provided by babysitters. We look forward to a colourful and diverse exchange!

In good weather, the event takes place on the central campus lawn; in 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 Office – Welcome Center, and the Max Planck Institutes on the Saarbrücken campus.