Diversity in Teaching
Due to demographic changes, altered educational situations, more flexible mobility processes, constantly changing societal conditions, and concepts of "Lifelong Learning," the composition of the student body is continuously evolving. The heterogeneity of students will continue to increase, and addressing this diversity has become an increasingly important aspect of teaching and student advising/support at universities.
Gender- and diversity-sensitive teaching is based on the individual needs of students and aligns with the guiding principle of Hochschule Kaiserslautern, which is committed to equal opportunities and opposing discrimination based on personal characteristics.
The area of university didactics within the "Quality in Studies and Teaching" office offers programs and measures for the further development of teaching and the promotion of teaching competencies with the aim of professionally enhancing the teaching actions of instructors and all stakeholders involved in teaching.
Support for planning and designing diversity-sensitive teaching can also be found in this collection of links to various toolboxes. The content from the workshop "Diversity in Teaching" from the Day of Teaching on May 31, 2022, can be found here for further reading.
Gender-neutral language
Hochschule Kaiserslautern has embedded the core values of diversity and equal opportunities in its mission statement and vision, emphasizing the importance of gender-inclusive communication. Gender-inclusive or gender-sensitive language here means addressing all individuals equally, regardless of the gender they identify with.
This guide is intended as a recommendation for gender-sensitive phrasing and aims to provide support in dealing with the linguistic challenges that such formulations may present.
In a podcast on the topic, "How to gender elegantly without it being noticeable?" SWR Wissen has compiled some tips for gender-inclusive language.
Deutschlandfunk Podcast: "I was invisible as a disabled person for a long time."
Luisa L’Audace advocates for inclusion and anti-discrimination. She has personally experienced discrimination in various ways. And at some point, she realized: She doesn’t have to justify herself. The system needs to change.
You can listen to the podcast here.
Spektrum der Wissenschaft: "Shattered Soul"
The article deals with new insights into the still controversial dissociative identity disorder (multiple personalities).
Factbook Diversity
The Factbook Diversity from the Diversity Charter.
Positions, statistics, and arguments surrounding the topic of diversity management.