Center for Gender Relations in Academia

Keynote speech by Nina Steinweg: Why gender equality in academia is not a foregone conclusion


Categories: CEWS Aktuell

How can universities strengthen gender equality while promoting academic excellence? Dr. Nina Steinweg, senior researcher at CEWS, addressed this question at the kick-off event for the gender equality program of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate on November 19 in Mainz. In her keynote speech, she highlighted the importance of gender equality for profile building, competitiveness, and a sustainable academic culture. She also discussed challenges such as the supposed contradiction between gender equality and excellence, and between reducing bureaucracy and academic freedom, and outlined approaches for addressing these constructively. Finally, she presented a comprehensive understanding of modern gender equality policy, which encompasses both personnel measures and structural changes such as fair appointment procedures and transparent governance.

The gender equality program of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate consists of centralized and decentralized measures. The former are offered to all universities, while the decentralized parts of the program give universities the opportunity to promote measures individually for their own institution.

Further information (in German):

Press release from the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science and Health on the event 

Gender equality program of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate