3rd quarter

• The equal opportunities concept for parity at Clausthal University of Technology was submitted to the project management agency on time as part of the 2nd call of the Women Professors Program 2030. After submission, the review process begins, which usually takes several months.

• The application phase for the fourth round of the WiMINToringmentoring program foryoung female scientists is now open. Interested women have until October 31, 2024 to register for this successful program. A new round will start in January 2025, in which 10 motivated participants will be supported on their career path by mentors from science and industry. The program includes workshops, networking evenings, career coaching and regular mentoring discussions.

• On September 13, 2024, the networking evening of the women's network "Women&Science TU Clausthal" took place, which is also anchored in the WiMINToringmentoring program for female Master's students. The event offered participants the opportunity to exchange ideas with successful women in leading positions at Volkswagen AG. In inspiring presentations, the speakers gave insights into their impressive career paths and shared their experiences from over 20 years in a male-dominated industry. Afterwards, the participants had the opportunity to continue the conversation and ask individual questions over a shared buffet. The event provided numerous valuable impulses for the professional and personal development of the participants.

• On 12 September 2024, the online workshop "Everyday sexism - recognize, name, end!" took place for the tutors of the O phase. In this interactive Zoom session, participants learned how they can safely support all students. The workshop provided knowledge on how to recognize and address sexist language and inappropriate behavior and how to end such situations constructively. The workshop focused on recognizing and addressing everyday sexism, communication and de-escalation as well as concrete recommendations for action. The workshop provided a safe space for exchange and practical exercises. The aim was to work together to create a campus where respect and equality are a matter of course and sexualized violence has no place.

• On September 1, 2024, the new cycle of the Lower Saxony Technikum began. Clausthal University of Technology welcomed four female technicians who will gain practical experience in three companies from September 2024 to February 2025. They will also take part in a university day that includes courses in chemistry/process engineering. The introductory workshop for the new technicians has already revealed great interest and enthusiasm, marking the start of an exciting and instructive time. In addition to the practical assignments, the technicians can expect an extensive accompanying program that includes both digital and analog formats. In the digital area, the technicians take advantage of three different offers, while TU Clausthal organizes a diverse program at the university, including a workshop on personal branding, visits to institutes, a round table with students, offers from TUCreate and presentation workshops.
  
  The big launch event of the Lower Saxony Technikum took place on 9 September 2024. Technicians, corporate partners, university representatives and supporters gathered in the auditorium of Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts to celebrate the career orientation program and welcome this year's participants from all universities in Lower Saxony.

From October 2024, the advertising round for the 2025/26 round will start, involving schools, employment agencies and trade fairs as well as digital and individual information events.

• Clausthal University of Technology's integrated report as part of the DFG's Research-Oriented Standards on Gender Equality and Diversity (FOGD) was submitted on time on September 30, 2024. This report sets out the developments and objectives for the 2022-2025 reporting period in the area of equal opportunities for researchers and the promotion of diversity.

In the area of "Promoting equal opportunities for female and male scientists", Clausthal University of Technology has focused on a holistic concept for promoting the careers of young female scientists. In the area of "Promoting diversity", the focus is on developing a diversity strategy for the university.

The Equal Opportunities Commission unanimously made a recommendation to the Senate and the Executive Board also unanimously approved the report. The integrated report will be presented to the faculty councils and the Senate at the next regular meetings.

Following the DFG's evaluation of the reports, a one-day workshop for university management is planned for collegial consultation in June 2025.

• As part of the "Joint Declaration on the Gender Pay Gap in the Salaries of Professors", which was signed at the end of 2023, the universities in Lower Saxony have committed to working with the Ministry of Science and Culture (MWK) to take measures to create transparency, promote procedural fairness and reduce existing inequalities. A central element of this declaration is the establishment of a common data basis.

In order to achieve this goal, the State Higher Education Conference (LHK) has developed a proposal for data collection for the years 2021 to 2023. All universities in Lower Saxony were asked to submit their data by September 15, 2024. Clausthal University of Technology did this on time.

In the next step, the data collected will be evaluated by the Standing Commission for Gender Equality (SK Gleichstellung) and presented at the LHK plenary session on November 11, 2024.

• As part of the 4th dialog initiative "Gender-equitable university culture - intersectional equality work", three events were offered that dealt with central aspects of intersectional equality work at universities:
  • "Intersectionality - In Theory and Application". Pauline Seuß, political education officer, introduced the concept of intersectionality and demonstrated its interdisciplinary application. The focus was on the question: What does it mean to consider intersectionality in university equality work?
  • "Inequality at universities - description of the current situation and analysis of causes". In her presentation, Dr. Aline Oloff analyzed current inequality conditions at universities and placed them in the historical context of the development of modern academic institutions and the transformation of universities over the last 30 years. From this, she derived key requirements for intersectional equality work.
  • "Who does research? - Careers and unequal opportunities in science". In her presentation, Dr. Esto Mader from Humboldt University Berlin addressed inequalities in scientific careers and showed how these influence opportunities in science.

This series of events was aimed at all university members and people who are actively involved in shaping the higher education landscape in Lower Saxony.

• Clausthal University of Technology regularly offers vacation childcare programs for primary school children during the Easter and summer vacations in Lower Saxony in order to provide families with flexible and educational childcare during the school vacations.

Two weeks of vacation care were planned for the summer vacations, known as the "Children's Summer University". The first week took place from June 24 to 28, 2024 and the second from July 29 to August 2, 2024 and both were a great success. The children experienced an exciting week with child-friendly lectures, creative crafts, sporting activities and fun games. The second week of the Children's Summer University, which took place in the last week of the summer vacations in Lower Saxony, was also fully booked. The high demand underlines the great interest in this childcare program. A big thank you goes to all the lecturers and supervisors from various institutes and facilities of our university who contributed to the success of the children's universities.

• Clausthal University of Technology's Family Service has announced the sponsorship award for outstanding student or academic achievements during a family phase. The call for applications began on July 15, 2024 and was aimed at all persons who have made outstanding achievements during a family phase between July 2023 and June 2024. Proposals from the heads of institutes, research centers or other organizational units could be submitted until 31 August 2024. The guidelines for the award are currently being revised to ensure that they meet current requirements. Two proposals were received by the application deadline. The award is intended to help recognize and promote exceptional achievements during a family phase.