UNIFY
KidsClub - for internationals
Point of contact in cases of anti-Semitic discrimination at Heidelberg universities
News and events
Online Lunchtime Talk on 4 November 2026 – Your Enquiry About the Presentation Slides and Information Materials
Dear participants, Thank you for joining our online lunchtime talk, “Care Knows No Age – An Introduction to Care Advisory Services”! Regarding your enquiry about the presentation slides, our speaker, Mr Stefan Zirkel, recommends downloading the information materials directly from the website (link here) (printed copies can also be ordered if needed). As changes to German care legislation are expected next year, the materials are regularly updated to ensure they remain up to date.
Couples’ Workshop on November 20, 2026, from 5–8 pm in Heidelberg: Creating an equal balance between career, partnership and family life (in German only)
How can we balance work, family and relationships fairly? This free workshop for couples in Heidelberg explores how to share paid work and unpaid care responsibilities, childcare, household tasks and the mental load more equally, while also considering long-term financial security and social protection. The interactive workshop offers inspiration and an opportunity for couples to explore ways of building a more equal partnership together. Click here to register.
OLYMPIA MORATA PROGRAMME
The Olympia Morata Funding Programme is currently open for applications again. The deadline for applications is 15 December 2026. The programme is aimed at high-achieving postdoctoral researchers (i.e. FLINTA*) with an outstanding research project in the R2 phase. Further information and the application documents can be found here.
About UNIFY
UNIFY is the central institution at Heidelberg University for issues of family support, diversity and equality. Its goals, tasks, measures and activities correspond to the legal mandate and strategic goals of the Excellence Strategy.
Family
The reconciliation of caring work and a professional career or studies is at the heart of our work. Raising children or caring for relatives should not result in disadvantages in education or working life. In addition to regular childcare, the university also offers emergency childcare. Students are entitled to flexible examination deadlines.
Diversity
Attributed or self-defined identification with one or more diversity dimensions bears enriching potential and competences as well as challenges and vulnerability. In the context of the university, seven dimensions have been identified that are at the centre of the Diversity Concept. Individual, structural and organisational measures are intended to promote equal opportunities for everyone at the university as a place to study and work.
Certifications
Equality, diversity, antidiscrimination and family are accompanied by external certifications at Heidelberg University. On the one hand, charters reaffirm the commitment to the basic values that are also reflected in the university's mission statement. On the other hand, external certifications evaluate the measures and strategies on the topics and thus provide a framework and targets to be achieved within a certain period of time. The associated commitment ensures the achievement of objectives and the quality of the university's equality, diversity and reconciliation work.
Equality
Women are still massively underrepresented in many subjects and especially at a certain career level ("leaky pipeline"). The State Higher Education Act therefore enshrines the promotion of women in science and the establishment of the office of Equal Opportunities Officer at universities.
Antidiscrimination
The university is not free from discrimination. Power imbalances and dependencies make the prevention of discrimination and disadvantages for certain people and the prevention of unequal treatment a central theme of UNIFY's work. This also includes dealing professionally with conflicts and offering a wide range of counselling services in cases of misconduct by university members.