UA Ruhr Offers Certificate in Diversity and Gender

The program offers Bachelor’s and Master’s students from all disciplines the opportunity to engage in a well-founded, interdisciplinary, and practice-oriented study of diversity and gender research. Topics include diversity, social justice, and power relations. Participants will be enabled to critically examine discrimination and power structures, thereby also taking a stand against contempt for human beings and hostility to democracy. These competencies strengthen them in their studies, careers, and society.

Three Modules: From Fundamentals to Practice

The certificate comprises three modules, in which a total of 15 credit points must be earned. The introductory module will be offered for the first time in the winter semester 2025/26 and conveys fundamentals of diversity and gender, intersectionality, and social inequality. From the summer semester 2026 onward, further courses may be taken at TU Dortmund University, Ruhr University Bochum, and the University of Duisburg-Essen.

In the advanced module, competencies and knowledge can be expanded through two accredited courses. The practical module focuses on analyzing concrete fields of action and also includes an internship with a partner organization.

In the first cohort, 15 students per university may enroll in the introductory module. To facilitate cross-university participation, it consists of two in-person block sessions and four online meetings. Students of TU Dortmund University may register until 10 October, 12.00 p.m. (noon), via the website of the Equal Opportunities Office. No prior subject knowledge is required.

At TU Dortmund University, Mona Motakef, Professor of Sociology of Gender Relations in the Department of Social Sciences, is involved in the academic design of the new program: “I look forward to working with the students! The certificate is intended to contribute to educational work that strengthens democratic principles and responds to current challenges. The timing could not be better.”

First Joint Certificate of the UA Ruhr

The certificate program Diversity and Gender is the first of its kind to be jointly designed by stakeholders from all UA Ruhr institutions and offered simultaneously to students at all three universities.

“The idea of a certificate program focusing on gender studies and diversity issues has been discussed repeatedly and independently at all three universities. That we can now launch it as a joint initiative is thanks to the commitment of many stakeholders and is also a sign of the times,” says Elisabeth Brenker, Central Equal Opportunities Officer at TU Dortmund University.

At TU Dortmund University, coordination of the certificate lies with the Equal Opportunities Office. The Corporate Center University Development and Organization is also involved in its design and organization. From the outset, the initiative has been supported by Vice President Diversity, Petra Wiederkehr, and Vice President Academic Affairs, Wiebke Möhring.

Further information

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