Inclusion, Gender and Diversity Management Staff Unit (IGaD)
Since 2007, the Rector's Office Inclusion, Gender and Diversity Management, IGaD for short, has been working on behalf of the Rectorate at all levels of the University to raise awareness of the need for appreciative and respectful cooperation and to provide impetus for the active promotion of equality, inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunities.
Through its participation in national and international calls for proposals, including Germany’s Women Professors program, the GesMINT project of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and the EU's SPEAR project, IGaD contributes to developing innovative ways to promote gender equality.
In the context of gender equality and equal opportunities in externally funded projects and clusters of excellence, the staff unit's Gender & Diversity consulting services provide advice and support for researchers tasked with writing research proposals, the review of the research project, and during the duration of the projects.
The TANDEM mentoring programs accompany dedicated, highly qualified women students, doctoral candidates and postdocs on their career path, and the Flexible Career Management (FCM) for Women in Academia program supports early-career women researchers in balancing work and family life.
Other key activities of the Rectorate staff unit include communication of gender and diversity issues within the University community and contributing to RWTH’s equal opportunities strategies. This includes further development of the University’s diversity strategy together with forumDIVERSITY and the implementation of RWTH’s Inclusion Action Plan (de).
In close collaboration with the Vice-Rector for Human Resources Management and Development, IGaD develops new ideas and initiatives to advance cultural change at the University. Through a wide range of collaborations with internal and external partners, the staff unit has been increasingly successful in integrating gender and diversity perspectives into the higher education landscape.
IGaD organizes (online) events and contributes to RWTH's continuing education offerings through the Gender and Diversity Knowledge Program. It also hosts the University in Transition – Perspectives on Gender and Diversity event series.
If you would like to develop your RWTH institution in the areas of gender and diversity or implement continuing education programs designed to fit your needs, please get in touch with us at the Integration Team – Human Resources, Gender and Diversity Management.