Equal opportunities in the department

The Department of Mathematics/Computer Science is committed to the principle of recruiting, developing or promoting people at all levels according to their qualifications and performance. The Basic Law, University Law, Equal Opportunities Act and Equal Treatment Act provide legal guidance in this regard. If decisions, measures or structures at the faculty systematically disadvantage groups of people contrary to the qualification and performance principle, the faculty will uncover and eliminate the causes of these disadvantages; this is in its own interest. If disadvantages or restrictions exist objectively without any action on the part of the department, it will endeavour to mitigate their causes and consequences as far as possible.

The  department's equality plan (PDF, 459 kB) is essentially limited to the issue of equality regardless of gender.

Within the university: For information on equal opportunities work at the department, see  StudIP.

Equal opportunities and family friendliness

The university has set itself the goal of improving the compatibility of career, studies and family and establishing a family-friendly university culture in the long term. In addition to the traditional nuclear family, the programmes are aimed at a variety of family models, such as patchwork families, and also include care for the older generation. All information on the university's programmes and measures can be found on the central page  Family & Care Work. The  Equal Opportunities Office offers you service and advice on all issues relating to compatibility, diversity and equal opportunities. Contact persons in the department are  Judith Plümer, Solveig Jensen, Maik Lepper, Carola Meyer, Maren Pukrop, Paula Scharlach, Sabine Schröder and Mandala von Westenholz.

Anti-discrimination directive

With the adoption of the  Anti-Discrimination Policy, Osnabrück University emphatically emphasizes that it does not tolerate any form of discriminatory and violent behavior. It is actively committed to protecting all university members and staff as well as visitors and users of university facilities from discrimination, harassment, bullying and stalking at the university and in non-university business dealings. The guideline strengthens the confidential counseling of those affected and regulates a binding procedure in the event of a complaint. Members of the university can find more detailed  information on the complaints procedure on the intranet.

Decentralised Equal Opportunities Officer

of the department is

 Dr Judith Plümer

The deputies are

 Carola Meyer,
 Solveig Jensen,
 Maik Lepper,
 Maren Pukrop,
 Paula Scharlach,
 Sabine Schröder,
 Mandala von Westenholz.

They were elected on 31.01.2024 for the period 1.04.2024-31.03.2026 by the Equal Opportunities Assembly of Faculty 6 and confirmed by the Faculty Council on 14.02.2024.

Against sexualised discrimination, harassment and violence

The university is in favour of this in its  guidelines.

Confidential initial counselling for those affected can be obtained from  Dr Carola Meyer or  Dr Judith Plümer at the department.

Menopause in the workplace

The topic of menopause in the workplace is still often taboo in Germany. Jennifer Chan de Avila and Sabine Nitsche provide a remedy and offer a theoretical model as well as a concrete action plan for innovative occupational health management in their book entitled  Menopause in the Workplace, published in 2025.

The  herea network provides further information on the topic of menopause.

Latest news

Female Promo­tion Pool

Apply now: completion grants, postdoctoral funding, and more! Osnabrück University supports young female scientists and projects promoting gender equality through its Female Promotion Pool. Applications can be submitted until January 15th.

Online Lecture: Eltern­schaft und Wissen­schaft

On December 2nd, the Equal Opportunity Office cordially invites you to an online lecture. Among other things, it will shed light on the (in)compatibility of science and caregiving responsibilities and what opportunities for improvement exist. 

Online Information Event "Studying With Child(ren)"

The Equal Opportunities Office cordially invites you to an online information event on 18.11.2025 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. on the topic of reconciling studying and family life.

Lunch & Learn "Auf Kosten der Mütter"

Birgit Happel will speak about the importance of financial self-determination for FLINTA* on November the 13th, 2025, at 12 noon, inviting participants to rethink monetary issues and reflect on shaping their own financial future.