Strategies of family promotion

With its strategies and offers, the University of Konstanz belongs to the top group of family-friendly universities in Germany. In addition to the optimally developed childcare facilities, it is characterized in particular by institutional approaches to compatibility of work/study and family obligations.

Because we also promote a change in gender roles in terms of an equal distribution of tasks in partnership, family support also becomes a strategy for promoting gender equality.

The compatibility of work/study and family obligations is a declared goal of the University of Konstanz, and is supported by the rectorate. Here the Chancellor is responsible for this topic as the "Family Representative" of the university. He works closely with the Equal Opportunity Office and is a member of the Equal Opportunity Council.

Charter “Familie in der Hochschule" (family at the university)

The Charter "Familie in der Hochschule" was developed by the network of the same name, in which the University of Konstanz has been actively involved since 2010. The network has been operating as an official association since 2018 (Familie in der Hochschule e.V.). The University of Konstanz was part of the group that developed the charter and signed it in 2014.

By signing, universities and university-related institutions publicly confirm to implement the high standards for family orientation set out in the charter on their own responsibility and to further develop them in the long term.

Commitment out of conviction

In 2014, the University of Konstanz signed the Charter and committed to the standards of family orientation formulated there.

The University of Konstanz' special approach lies in the need-based development of the specific offers for students, researchers, teachers and employees with family tasks and in the connection of institutional and individual offers. The latter is reflected in the family orientation model of the University of Konstanz. “Family” here encompasses all communities in which people permanently assume responsibility for one another.

Development goals of the University of Konstanz

1. Family support is taken into account in strategic developments.
2. The university promotes family-oriented working and study conditions, e.g. through specific advice and support offers.
3. Family-conscious leadership is integrated as a central theme in the leadership concept and as a cross-cutting issue in executive training.
4. The childcare offers meet all the specific requirements of a university with regular and flexible offers.
5. The university will actively and actively participate in the association.

The association Familie in der Hochschule e.V.

The currently 134 members of the association are universities and university-related institutions from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The association is characterized by a trans-regional dialogue and working in partnership at eye level. The members work in 13 different working groups on strategic and organizational topics.

The members have many years of experience in initiating and implementing measures for family orientation. Together, concepts and practical measures are developed that support students and employees in better reconciling family and studies or work.

Tanja Edelhäußer represents the University of Konstanz in the association as a member of the work group "family-friendly leadership" and as a member of the quality team. Christiane Harmsen heads the work group "family-friendly study conditions".