Equal opportunities and Diversity

What should I keep in mind when starting my career? How do I prepare for a career in business or academia? The “Mentoring Future” program at Hochschule Offenburg supports female master’s students in the final phase of their studies who want to benefit from a mentor’s experience and gain an extra boost for their future careers through specially designed seminars.

Mentoring is a tool for promoting young talent and professional development. The relationship between mentee and mentor is central to the program. The mentor supports the mentee in developing her personality and expanding her skills. At joint meetings for all participants in a given cohort, mentees have the opportunity to make connections and network with other women facing similar challenges. In the accompanying seminars, participants acquire additional qualifications that are not part of their degree program.

Since 2020, Hochschule Offenburg has offered the “Mentoring Future” program, a mentoring initiative exclusively for female master’s students. The program lasts a total of one year and begins in the winter semester. It is designed to support participating female students in their career planning and as they enter the workforce.

Each winter semester, participants are paired with a successful professional woman in a leadership role in business or industry (mentor). Through six to eight meetings during the mentoring year—held in pairs or groups of three—the students gain direct insight into their mentor’s field of work and, in the process, gather a wealth of experience and inspiration for their own entry into the workforce and career paths. In addition, a monthly lecture series featuring speakers from business, industry, and academia is held exclusively for the participants during the winter semester.

During the summer semester, participants take part in four to five career development workshops. The program culminates in the development and presentation of an individual career plan (which may serve as an assessment). Participants generally have the option to have their participation credited as the course “Career Planning Plus.”

Who can participate? All enrolled female master’s students at Hochschule Offenburg are eligible to submit an application.

Application: Apply using the application form or by email to ariane.birkenmeier-berl@hs-offenburg.de

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Hochschule Offenburg has established a “Gender Funding Pool” as part of the 2030 Program for Female Professors. The funds support female students during their studies by enabling them to participate in continuing education programs, such as “meccanica feminale” or “informatica feminale.”

Participation in these programs is supported by covering the registration fee and seminar costs, as well as by reimbursing half of the train fare. Interested students should briefly explain in the “Motivation” section of their application letter why participating in this continuing education program is important for their studies.

The application form can be found here.

The “Gender Funding Pool” offers a second funding stream: Female students can apply for funding to carry out projects or research. Carrying out this work often involves costs for travel, field trips, equipment, or research. The funding pool supports the work of female students and doctoral candidates with proportional, application-based funding of up to 50 percent of the costs.

The application materials must include:

• Application form—in German and English

• Resume

• Recommendation from a professor or lecturer—form

• Budget plan for the project or research work to be funded

Who is eligible to submit an application?
Enrolled female students at Hochschule Offenburg are eligible to submit an application. A cross-faculty committee of female experts from the university will decide on the award.

How can I submit an application?
All applications can be submitted to the Equal Opportunity Officer, Christine Parsdorfer, via email at christine.parsdorfer@hs-offenburg.de. 

All funding from the “Gender Funding Pool” is provided on a voluntary basis; there is no legal entitlement to it.

Once a year, the University’s equal opportunities officers present an Equality Award in Arts & Science worth 2,000 euros. To this end, each of the four departments nominates a female student who has produced an outstanding final thesis. The thesis may, but does not have to, address gender-related topics. In this way, the Equality Award also recognizes women who are graduating in a STEM field and therefore generally cannot present a thesis with a gender focus. In addition, the award may also be presented to project groups that have made a significant artistic or academic contribution in the field of gender. The award ceremony takes place during the winter semester.

The foundation supports talented young female scientists with children to provide them with the flexibility they need to pursue a career in science. Through monthly financial support for household help and additional childcare, the foundation aims to relieve young female scientists of domestic responsibilities and give them the time to continue their scientific work at a high level. The funding is intended for female doctoral and postdoctoral researchers in a field of experimental natural sciences or medicine.

Applications can be submitted through the foundation’s application portal. The application deadline is November 30 of each year.

Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Foundation

The MuT—Mentoring and Training—program supports early-career female researchers in Baden-Württemberg as they pursue their careers. The program is designed to provide targeted support to women aspiring to become professors, helping them apply their skills and more successfully capitalize on their career opportunities.

The MuT program comprises five elements that participants can use individually or in combination:

• Orientation Session

• Events and workshops

• Counseling and coaching

• Matching with a Mentor

• Networking

The program is open to female private lecturers, junior professors, postdoctoral researchers, and doctoral candidates at universities in Baden-Württemberg.

The State Conference of Equal Opportunities Officers at Universities of Applied Sciences (LAKOF) offers female academics interested in a professorship at a University of Applied Sciences (HAW) or the Dual University of Applied Sciences (DHBW) a wide range of workshops, seminars, and information. The range of informational and professional development opportunities includes information sessions, workshops, and seminars on topics such as career paths, appointment requirements, appointment procedures, doctoral studies, and university teaching methods.

On the Path to a Professorship (University of Applied Sciences/DHBW)

The Mathilde Planck Teaching Fellowship Program of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science aims to increase the number of female professors by awarding teaching fellowships to female academics. This allows women (who generally hold a doctorate) to gain teaching experience and establish connections with Universities. This gives them a better chance in tenure-track appointments because they can more easily demonstrate the appointment requirement of “pedagogical aptitude.” The program funds teaching positions in Baden-Württemberg that are newly filled by women.

Applications must be submitted by March 1 for the summer semester and by September 15 for the winter semester through the University’s equal opportunity officer, Christine Parsdorfer.

Hochschule Offenburg is a member of the "Dual Career Service." Numerous universities and institutions in the Southern Upper Rhine region have joined forces to support the partners of new employees in their job searches and to connect them with relevant contacts.

Students may apply for a leave of absence during maternity leave and the period immediately following it. Under the law on parental leave, this rule applies to both parents during the child’s first three years of life—even if they take leave of absence at the same time. What makes leave semesters for maternity leave and parental leave unique is that students can still take exams during this time. The situation is different after parental leave ends: While students can plan additional leave semesters, they are no longer permitted to take exams.

A leave semester gives students the opportunity to complete their degree despite an interruption in the standard time to degree. This is because the semesters during which they are on a leave of absence are not counted toward the standard time to degree. So, someone who takes a one-year break from their studies will have two additional academic semesters but the same number of academic semesters as those who did not take a break. The application for a leave semester, along with the necessary supporting documents, should be submitted to the respective Student Secretariats as early as possible. You can find the application form and important information on the homepage under “Service,” “Info A–Z (Public),” “Leave Semester Application.”

During a leave semester, you are not eligible for BAFöG. For expectant mothers and nursing students, as well as for students with children who do not take a leave of absence and continue their studies at least partially, quite generous BAFöG benefits are provided. Therefore, in many cases, there is no need to formally take a leave semester. It is recommended that you seek advice from the BAföG office in a timely manner.

As a general rule, students, apprentices, or high school students are not eligible for benefits to cover living expenses under SGB II. However, a hardship provision may apply if studies must be interrupted due to the birth of a child and the associated childcare responsibilities. During the leave semester, the student does not receive child benefit for herself, as her education is formally interrupted.

Hochschule Offenburg does not offer regular part-time degree programs, but it does allow students to complete fewer completed courses per semester in special cases. Such special cases include, in particular, pregnancy, parental leave, caring for family members, or personal illness. In these cases, the duration of study may be extended (part-time study) upon written request in accordance with Section 3 of the Study and Examination Regulations. There is no specific form for applying for part-time study. An informal request must be submitted to the respective chair of the examination board. The examination board will decide on the request.

The application for part-time study should include: the justification and supporting documentation (e.g., maternity record), as well as a list of the modules for the semesters for which part-time study is being requested. As a general rule, students should aim for a minimum of 15 credits per semester. It is recommended to first submit an application for part-time study for the next one to two semesters; the part-time study can then be extended.

Students who continue their studies despite parenting responsibilities are generally eligible for BAFöG. If raising children is the reason for extending the duration of studies, the funding period may be extended. It is advisable to contact the relevant Grants Office in a timely manner for more information. In general, if the duration of study is extended, students may also continue to receive child benefit themselves.

Special compensation measures support students in particular life situations as they pursue their studies. This allows for a more individualized approach to the course of study and exam performance. A guide to compensation regulations provides an overview of the various options.

As with employed individuals, maternity leave for female students generally applies for six weeks before and eight weeks after childbirth. This means that students are not required to attend mandatory classes or take exams during this time. However, female students may choose not to take advantage of the maternity leave period before and after childbirth and may decide for themselves whether or not to participate in activities such as exams or internships even during maternity leave. To prevent automatic registration for exams, the registrar's office should be informed of the pregnancy as early as possible.

The University may not require pregnant or breastfeeding students to attend classes between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. However, if students expressly wish to do so and it is necessary for educational purposes, they may participate in activities between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. as well as on Sundays and holidays.

The University must also assess whether the study conditions could pose a health risk to pregnant or breastfeeding women. This means that a risk assessment must be conducted for all degree programs and each individual course. The risk assessments determine whether safety or occupational health regulations are necessary to protect a pregnant or breastfeeding woman. This applies equally to lectures, lab work, mandatory internships before or during the degree program, and field trips.

To ensure that female students can exercise their rights under the Maternity Protection Act and that the University can implement appropriate protective measures, it is necessary for pregnant students to register with their respective Student Secretariats as early as possible. The Central Study Counseling Office and the occupational safety specialists will then contact the student to discuss and implement the measures mentioned above.

Further information:

The current Maternity Protection Act can be found here (PDF).

The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs has published a detailed guide on maternity protection.

Information sheet (PDF) from Hochschule Offenburg on studying during pregnancy and while breastfeeding

study counseling

Information on ALG 2 and BAFöG during your studies:

studis-online.de/

Information from the BMBF on BAFöG

As a general rule, BAföG is granted only for a degree program that is actually being pursued. If a female student is unable to attend classes due to her pregnancy, BAföG payments will continue for up to three months on an exceptional basis. If students must interrupt their studies for longer than three months, they are no longer eligible for BAföG. However, it is possible to extend the duration of BAföG funding.

As a general rule, the requirement for an extension is that, despite pregnancy or child-rearing, students devote the majority of their time to their studies on a per-semester basis and can demonstrate this through assessments. It is definitely recommended to seek advice from the BAföG office in a timely manner.

During a leave semester, you are not eligible for BAföG, even if you are permitted under special regulations to attend courses and/or take exams during that semester. There is an exception for study abroad programs: Students who take a leave of absence to study abroad can apply for BAFöG for study abroad.

Further information

The Federal Ministry of Education on BAföG

Freiburg-Schwarzwald Studierendenwerk

Maternity benefits provide additional financial support. However, you are only eligible for them if you are employed at the start of your maternity leave period.

You can find more information about financial assistance at the following address.

Maternity Allowance

Federal Insurance Office
Villemombler Straße 76
53123 Bonn
0228 619-1888
mutterschaft@bundesversicherungsamt.de

Families who care for their child themselves and are not working full-time can apply for parental allowance. This benefit is granted for up to 14 months and is not counted toward any housing allowance you may receive.

Several factors determine the amount of parental allowance. The minimum amount is 300 euros. You are entitled to this amount even if you do not earn any money while studying. However, if you have an income, the amounts will be offset against each other.

Here you can find more information on parental allowance.

Students are eligible for child benefits until they turn 25. In addition, they can also apply for child benefits for their own children. The application for child benefits can be completed at the appropriate family benefits office of the Employment Agency.

Single parents and couples can apply for the child supplement if an unmarried child under the age of 25 lives in the household and their income does not exceed the minimum income threshold. The child supplement is not granted if the recipient is receiving Unemployment Benefit II or Social Assistance.

Further information on the child supplement

As a general rule, anyone enrolled in vocational training is ineligible for ALG II benefits. However, students with children are an exception. If they interrupt their studies for more than three months, their BAföG funding is suspended, making them eligible for ALG II. ALG II can also provide financial support for students enrolled in part-time programs. However, students must remain available for work; therefore, it is advisable to first seek advice from the Federal Employment Agency.

Single parents who do not receive child support from the other parent may apply for an advance on child support. It is paid until the child turns twelve. However, child benefit is deducted from this payment. You can find the application form for the advance on child support at your local youth welfare office.

Students who receive BAföG financial aid are generally not eligible for housing assistance. However, students who are parents may apply for housing assistance for their child(ren) if they are unable to cover the cost of housing. You can find the application form for housing assistance at your city hall or municipal office.

For more information on housing assistance, visit the Studierendenwerk website.

The Freiburg-Black Forest Studierendenwerk offers additional financial assistance, which can be applied for directly through the organization. You can find more information here.

On the Offenburg campus, there is a baby-changing room on the ground floor of Building B in the accessible restroom (Room B009).

On the Gengenbach campus, there is a changing area in the women’s restroom on the ground floor of the Gengenbach Monastery.

Children of students under the age of ten who are accompanied by their parents or a parent receive a free children’s meal in addition to their parents’ meal. There is a microwave available for heating up baby food. Meals can be handed to the cafeteria staff in a microwave-safe container. This offer applies only to children’s meals.

The Offenburg Child Care Association offers full-day care for children between the ages of zero and fourteen. You can find more information about the care services offered on the Child Care Association's website.

Family Rooms

KITA Summer Program

Offenburg Child Care Providers Association e.V.
Okenstraße 57,
77652 Offenburg
0781-9484731
tageseltern-offenburg@t-online.de