Paderborn University has once again impressed with its gender equality concept in the second selection round of the nationwide programme for female professors and was also one of a total of 12 universities to be awarded the title "University with strong gender equality". The Women Professors Programme is the central instrument of the federal and state governments to promote gender equality at universities. To this end, they are providing a total of 320 million euros over an extended period of eight years for the first time.
"The positive assessment of the gender equality concept and the award of the distinction are a great acknowledgement of the gender equality work and a wonderful success for Paderborn University," says Professor Dr Birgitt Riegraf, President of Paderborn University. The aim of the Female Professors Programme 2030 is to increase the number of female professors towards parity, to support (junior) female scientists and artists on their way to a lifetime professorship and to anchor gender equality even more firmly in the structure of universities. This is intended to sustainably strengthen the necessary structural and cultural change towards more gender equality at universities. Paderborn University's gender equality concept focuses on the visibility of female academics: Gender-sensitive appointment management and gender-equitable career development are intended to further increase the proportion of female professors from the current 40.5 per cent. The concept is rounded off by support through the strengthening of gender equality stakeholders, measures to combat discrimination on the basis of gender and gender-equitable work-life balance measures. Dr Annika Hegemann, Central Equal Opportunities Officer at Paderborn University, commented: "We are delighted that our concept has been recognised. The "University with Strong Gender Equality" award recognises our gender equality strategy. The programme's funding enables us to implement equality measures and thus specifically promote women at all academic career levels. "
The federal and state governments launched the Female Professors Programme back in 2008. Universities qualify for participation by submitting gender equality concepts, which are assessed externally by a panel of experts. The concepts include an analysis of the current situation and measures based on this. This is the fourth time that Paderborn University has successfully participated in the Women Professors Programme.
The 56 positively assessed universities now have the opportunity to submit applications for up to three start-up grants for the initial appointment of women to permanent W2 or W3 professorships by 30 September 2026. Universities honoured with the award can also submit an application for an additional position for a female early career researcher that will lead to a permanent professorship.
