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Work-Life Balance Weeks
Work-Life Balance Weeks 2025 – Thinking beyond
From 4 to 19 November 2025, the Family Office of the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Management Unit (CDM) presents the third Work-Life Balance Weeks (‘Wochen der Vereinbarkeit’ or WdV) at Saarland University.
Under this year's motto, ‘Thinking beyond,’ the Family Office of the CDM Unit is focusing on aspects that have received less attention in public discourse to date. Events on discrimination-sensitive family life, health during hormonal transitions, dealing with grief and loss in everyday working life, and queer perspectives on work culture and work-life balance provide important impetus for a broader, diversity-conscious examination of the topic of work-life balance.
Every year in November, Saarland University (UdS) places a special focus on all aspects of reconciling work, family, and personal life with its Work-Life Balance Weeks. The aim of this weeks is to raise awareness of the challenges of balancing studies, work and private life and to draw attention to the wide range of family-friendly measures offered by Saarland University. Considering the individual work-life balance needs of employees and students who have care responsibilities is an integral part of the family-friendly university culture at Saarland University.
Foreword by Dr Roland Rolles, The Vice-President for Administration and Finance
The Work-Life Balance Weeks have become a fixture in our university's annual calendar. They highlight the diverse and individual challenges of balancing studies, career, and private life. This year, under the motto 'Thinking beyond', the Family Office of the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Management Unit (CDM) is focusing on aspects that are often neglected in public discourse, such as discrimination-sensitive family life, transitional phases in health, coping with grief, and queer perspectives on work culture.
This thematic diversity makes it clear that work-life balance affects us all, and that it can only succeed if we take the different realities of life at our university seriously and make them visible. Saarland University is a family-friendly university. This involves creating spaces for exchange and knowledge-sharing, and working together to promote an open and supportive university culture.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to the CDM Family Office for organising these events.
I would like to invite all employees and students to attend, draw inspiration from it and contribute to the further development of our work-life balance.
Dr Roland Rolles
Vice-President for Administration and Finance
Programme
From an early age, children start to develop their understanding of the world around them. Stories, illustrations and language influence their perception of who belongs and who is excluded. So how can we inspire children to embrace a fair and diverse society while helping them to recognise and take action against inequality?
Racism isn’t always loud or obvious. Discrimination often happens quietly, yet it leaves deep marks on those affected and beyond.
In her talk, Anna Mendel, a speaker, author and passionate anti-racism advocate, sheds light on these often overlooked mechanisms. Using concrete examples from the media, language and everyday life, she illustrates how racist and discriminatory structures operate, and explains why representation matters from the outset. Parents and carers will gain well-founded knowledge and practical advice, as well as book recommendations and everyday tips for raising children in a way that is sensitive to discrimination.
A talk that encourages new perspectives and invites reflection on our own behaviour. For a nursery where everyone feels welcome, and a society where everyone is seen.
Speaker: Anna Mendel
Website: https://www.annamendel.de/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annamendel.official/
Organiser: Family Office
Contact: familie(at)uni-saarland.de
Language: German
Registration is requested: Click here to register.
Last-minute participants are warmly welcome: Link to the Teams meeting (Intranet).
Studying abroad opens up new horizons, enhancing academic skills and offering insights into different cultures, ways of life and perspectives. However, going abroad can also present challenges, such as planning, financing and balancing family responsibilities, which require a high level of organisation and perseverance.
To make this experience more accessible to a wider range of students, the Erasmus+ exchange programme has introduced targeted support measures in recent years. In addition to events and training for university advisory services, as well as tailored information materials, it is the additional financial support that helps students facing particular challenges access the programme above all. The aim is to reduce barriers and acknowledge diverse life realities.
Dr Frauke Stebner and her team at the Erasmus+ National Agency for Higher Education at the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) are responsible for implementing measures to promote inclusion and diversity in the Erasmus+ programme. In her talk, she will explain how students with increased compatibility needs can find their way abroad and how advisers can provide targeted support. The aim is to make the international experience open to all, regardless of personal circumstances.
Target audience: Students planning a stay abroad and interested university staff
Speaker: Dr Frauke Stebner
Organisers: Family Office in cooperation with Familie in der Hochschule e.V. (Working Group: Studying Abroad with Children)
Contact: familie(at)uni-saarland.de
Language: German
Registration is requested. [Click here to register.]
Last-minute participants are warmly welcome: [Link to the Teams meeting.]
This event focuses on a life stage that is often underestimated but deeply significant: midlife, typically between the ages of 35 and 55. At its core are the hormonal transition phases – perimenopause, menopause and andropause – embedded in a holistic view of lifestyle health pillars such as nutrition, physical activity, stress management, sleep, social relationships and environmental factors. The aim is to raise awareness, foster sensitivity and offer new perspectives on physical and mental self-leadership.
The interactive session will be led by Anne Funk, founder of Légèreté, coach and communication expert with over 20 years of experience in politics and leadership. Her approach combines scientifically grounded knowledge with a keen understanding of the challenges and opportunities of midlife – and invites participants to navigate this phase with greater ease and self-efficacy.
Target Audience: Open to all interested individuals
Speaker: Anne Funk
Website: https://annefunk.eu/
Instagram: Légèreté by Anne Funk
Organiser: Family Office
Contact: familie(at)uni-saarland.de
Language: German
Registration is requested. Click here to register.
Last-minute participants are warmly welcome: Link to the Teams meeting (Intranet).
Grief and loss can affect our working lives. Yet, talking about it is difficult. This event aims to shed light on this sensitive and frequently taboo subject, reduce uncertainty and provide guidance on fostering a mindful and supportive approach in the workplace.
Bernhard Blank, Prevention Officer at Saarland University, introduces Saarland University’s grief support initiative. This includes Café Zeitenwende, an open meeting space for grieving people, and the Rememberance Tree, a place for reflection and remembrance. The initiative aims to provide professional support and raise awareness of grief within the university community.
Dagmar Schackmann, coordinator at the St. Jakobus Hospice’s outpatient hospice service in Saarbrücken, offers insights into respectful and open approaches to grief in the workplace.
She demonstrates how teams and leaders can support grieving colleagues by giving them space, addressing their needs, and accompanying them through difficult times.
Target Audience: Open to anyone interested.
Speakers: Dagmar Schackmann (St. Jakobus Hospice) & Bernhard Blank (Prevention Officer)
Organiser: Family Office
Contact: familie(at)uni-saarland.de
Language: German
Registration is requested. Click here to register.
Last-minute participants are warmly welcome: Link to the Teams meeting (Intranet).
The Queer Lunch Break on the Move invites all UdS employees who either self-identify as queer or want to show their support as an ally to exchange ideas. This time we are meeting again in person for an informal walk.
The route has been chosen so that it is also easy to manage with physical impairments. If you have any questions about the event, please contact us in advance at diversity@uni-saarland.de. You are also welcome to subscribe to the mailing list at the e-mail address.
I am queer myself. Do I have to come out at the event? No. All participants are free to decide whether and how much they want to reveal about themselves.
Organiser: Diversity Office
Contact: diversity(at)uni-saarland.de
Meeting point: grass area between buildings C7 2 and C7 4
Languages: German | English | French