International Scholars Equal Opportunities

UNIFY is the central institution at Heidelberg University for issues of family support, diversity and equality.

With services such as the Clearingstelle “Wissenschaft und Familie”, the Dual Career Service and the Concierge Service, UNIFY actively supports academics in reconciling of caring work and a professional career or academic life. The Kinderhausbüro and the Service für Familien are also part of UNIFY and provide information on available childcare facilities and other family-related topics.

In addition, UNIFY advises on the postdoctoral and habilitation programs offered by the university for female academics, such as the “Olympia Morata Program”, as well as on scholarships within the framework of the “Schlieben-Lange” and “Margarethe-von-Wrangell” programs of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science. For female students and academics, targeted further education offers are provided to promote careers, including themed seminars that deal with the implementation of skills and the optimal use of career opportunities.

UNIFY also focuses on advice and prevention in relation to anti-discrimination and the promotion of diversity at Heidelberg University.

The University of Heidelberg and the University Hospital also have offers and measures in place to create safety on the university campus Im Neuenheimer Feld.

For example: If you are out late, you can use the Women´s Night Taxi (Frauen-Nachttaxi) or you can request an escort service from the Begeitservice to walk you from your institute to your bus stop. After dusk on the bus lines 31 and 32, you can also request to be let out between stops in Neuenheimer Feld in order to avoid a long walk in the dark. You simply need to ask the bus driver ahead of time.

There is more information about the night taxi service and other safety measures in the “Walk Safe” brochure which can be picked up from the Equal Opportunities Office or downloaded online.

The Office for Equal Opportunities of the City of Heidelberg offers citizens of Heidelberg advice on gender equality, equal participation and anti-discrimination. It offers assistance in situations of sexual harassment, advice in the situation before a possible termination of pregnancy and other emergency situations. The office also has a large collection of contacts and can provide information about initiatives and institutions as well as women’s groups. These contacts are interesting both to those seeking assistance and for people interested in being active in such groups.