Equality-oriented Professorial Appointment Procedures

Despite progress, women remain underrepresented in many academic disciplines at TU Darmstadt. As of 2024, the share of female professors is 25%. TU Darmstadt is firmly committed to further increasing this share. Ensuring equality-oriented and gender-sensitive appointment procedures is therefore a key concern. All applicants should have the opportunity to fully develop their potential in appointment procedures.

What we do:

  • We serve as a point of contact on issues related to gender equality for all those involved in professorial appointment procedures including members of appointment committees.
  • We raise awareness of gender equality and diversity in the context of appointment procedures.
  • We analyze trends and best practices in appointment procedures at TU Darmstadt and other universities and provide guidance on how to design and implement gender-sensitive appointment procedures.
  • We offer training and professional development for members of appointment committees.
  • We place particular emphasis on the exchange with decentralized gender equality officers who represent equality interests in the vast majority of appointment committees.

Ressources

Active recruitment is a key strategy within the framework of equality-oriented appointment procedures. The Gender Equality Office advises members of appointment committees on active recruiting. In addition, departments can apply for funding to support the recruitment of potential female candidates for professorships. TU Darmstadt’s guideline concerning active recruitment of female professors as well as further information can be found [here].

Unconscious biases influence work and organizational culture — and thus also the recruitment of personnel. Reflecting on unconscious biases is essential for implementing equality-oriented appointment procedures. Further information can be found [here].

In July 2024, TU Darmstadt joined the voluntary self-commitment of German universities to promote greater gender equality. By joining this initiative, TU Darmstadt explicitly reaffirmed its commitment to advancing equality-oriented and gender-sensitive appointment procedures.