Recommendation for diversity sensitive Education

The „Recommendation for diversity sensitive Education” and the extended digital version are aimed at providing all students with a successful participation in the learning process. They are parts of the overall strategy of the President’s Office for the promotion of diversity conscious perspectives on the institutional levels of education, research and administration of HHU. Therefore, the mindset of lecturers to individually consider and respect personal circumstances of students is a crucial prerequisite. The goal of this recommendation is to give lecturers the tools to further their diversity sensitive perspective. A brief outline of its contents can be found below, a full english translation is in the making.

The Heinrich-Heine University (HHU) understands diversity of its students and employees as an asset. In this way, all members experience respect for their person and appreciation for their achievements. Students are able to develop their intellectual, personal and social potential; employees can apply their abilities, experiences and talents. By thriving in diversity, we leave no chance for unfairness and discrimination!

Here you can download the recommendation as a PDF document

Contents of the handout

The checklist in the guide is intended to serve as an initial orientation and to challenge your knowledge of diversity. This will help you identify the areas in which you are already well versed and those in which you may still have some catching up to do. You can work through it right at the beginning or at the end of your reading.

The attitude of teachers and the way in which knowledge is imparted are crucial when it comes to integrating gender and diversity aspects into university studies. Enabling diversity-sensitive learning is a task for university teaching. It encompasses both the planning and design of study programmes and the advising and support of students. This chapter provides an insight into the general framework conditions for successfully designing diversity-sensitive courses.

In this chapter, we have compiled a number of examples that can provide you with inspiration or guidance in different situations for making your teaching diversity-sensitive, specifically in relation to the individual diversity dimensions at HHU.

The contact points listed here are available to provide you with advice and assistance. Please pass on this information to your students if possible. You are also welcome to take advantage of these services yourself and receive support, e.g. in discussing challenges in dealing with a diverse student body.

Here you will find further information on specific topics. This includes the legal basis for the work of the Diversity Coordination Office, further guidance on diversity and recommended reading.