Equal Opportunities Committee

Our commitment to equal opportunities spans various dimensions, including ethnic, cultural, geographical, and social backgrounds, as well as abilities, health, and sexual and gender identity. We strive to advance equal opportunities in areas such as scholarship awards, staffing policies, and organizational hierarchies.

While maintaining a commitment to gender balance among doctoral researchers, scholarship holders, and staff members, our emphasis lies on evaluating applicants based on their academic and personal profiles. The EOC prioritizes personnel development that is attuned to gender, culture, and individual needs to support the ongoing efforts of the GCSC and GGK in promoting equity and diversity.

Key tasks outlined in the negotiated agreements involve:

1. Increasing sensitivity to gender, ethnicity, sexuality, and culture within academic structures, recognizing the impact of diversity on the Excellence Initiative.
2. Fostering competencies in gender, cultural, racial, and ability sensitivity.
3. Anchoring race and difference studies in research.
4. Implementing politically sensitive language and ensuring information accessibility for all members.
5. Developing measures to promote the representation of potentially under-represented groups at all hierarchical levels,such as achieving a balanced distribution of genders, representation of international members, and accessibility regardless of health and ability on all hierarchical levels of the GCSC/GGK.

The EOC regards it as central to further the reconcilability of family and (academic) careers. In this context, the EOC hopes to be perceived as both a point of contact and a special-interest group. Together with the GCSC/GGK sub-programme “Combining Career & Family”, the EOC works for the needs and requirements of all GCSC/GGK parents and caregivers.

Apart from contributing to the development of the GCSC/GGK by working with the Selection Committee and Board of Directors, and the research areas, the EOC offers workshops that are tailored to raise awareness  and reflect on the degree of sensitivity to difference within the institutional structures of the graduate centre. These workshops will contribute to basic knowledge transfer with regard to the mainstream as well as foster competencies in equal opportunities work, including the professorial level. Furthermore, workshops and lectures will provide information on the opportunities of potentially disadvantaged groups in post-doctoral top-level research and broach the issue of combining academic careers with familial responsibilities.

One of the primary missions of the Equal Opportunities Committee is to ensure that the voices of graduate students are heard and valued within the academic community. The EOC is dedicated to bridging the communication gap between the students, the executive committee, and the Equal Opportunities Officer at JLU. By fostering open dialogue and advocating for the concerns and perspectives of graduate students, the EOC aims to create a more inclusive and equitable environment, where every member of the academic community has the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from the vibrant academic culture at JLU. 

The Equal Opportunities Committee consists of one to two professors and post-doctoral researchers, and three doctoral researchers, one of which also becomes representative of the international doctoral members. EOC delegates are elected by GGK/GCSC members at the annual plenary meeting. Professors are elected for three years; all other members are elected for periods of one year.

Given the delicacy of equal opportunity issues and their personal and professional implications, we would like to reassure you that we will treat every conversation or topic you would like to bring to our attention with respect and confidentiality.

Elected delegates:

• Prof. Dr. Kristen von Hagen
• Dr. Pınar Gümüs Mantu
• Archana Ravi
• Piera Mazzaglia
• Farouk El Maarouf

Contact: equalopportunities