Perspectives Matter. Action Week for Diversity, Participation, and Equal Opportunities
Different perspectives shape how we conduct research, teach, learn, and work. From 19 to 22 October 2026, the University of Mannheim invites you to its action week for diversity, participation, and equal opportunities.
Lectures, workshops, academic discussions, and public events will explore different dimensions of diversity and discrimination. The focus will be on current research, experiences from everyday university life, and the question of how we can work together to create a university that provides equal opportunities and fosters mutual respect.
The action week is organized by the Department of Equal Opportunity and Diversity and the Mannheim University Library. The events are open to all students, researchers, and staff members at the University of Mannheim.
Participation in events held on the premises of the University of Mannheim counts as working time.
Monday, 19 October 2026
Writing with diversity in mind – Practical tips for more inclusive everyday communication
10:15 a.m.–11:45 a.m., ExpLAB
Organized by the diversity and anti-discrimination multipliers and moderated by Alexa Knapp and Dr. Regine Zeller
Whether in e-mails, academic publications, press releases, or presentations, the way we speak and write plays an important role in creating a respectful and inclusive environment. How can we communicate in ways that are sensitive to diversity and minimize discriminatory language? Which expressions should we avoid, and what are some examples of best practice? Drawing on the University of Mannheim’s recently published guidelines for gender- and diversity-sensitive communication, this workshop provides an overview of diversity-sensitive language. In practical exercises, we will take a close look at our own texts and put them to the test. If you like, bring along your own text samples (max. 1,000 words), challenging formulations, or questions you have encountered in this context. We will discuss your examples and develop concrete ideas for putting inclusive communication into practice.
The event will be held in German.
Gegenargument: Responding confidently to discriminatory statements
Noon–3:15 p.m., online
Organized by Anti-Discrimination Officer Dr. Jens Augspurger in cooperation with the Gegenargument network
How can we contribute to a university and workplace culture that provides equal opportunities and is based on mutual respect? In this interactive workshop, participants will learn to better recognize discriminatory, exclusionary, or anti-democratic statements and respond to them confidently.
Using practical examples from everyday university life, the workshop examines common rhetorical and discursive strategies and develops concrete ways of responding to them. Through discussion, reflection, and practical exercises, participants will strengthen their ability to respond effectively, take a clear stand for diversity and respect, and develop personal strategies for dealing constructively with challenging situations.
The workshop is aimed at anyone who wants to promote diversity and actively counter discrimination.
The workshop will be held in German.
Tuesday, 20 October 2026
From biodiversity to neurodiversity – How we benefit when others think and behave a little differently
1:45–3:15 p.m., ExpLAB
Organized by the LGBTQIA+ Network and moderated by Dr. Elisabeth Klein and Dr. Nic Selzer
What do bee colonies have to do with our everyday working lives? More than you might think: In some bee colonies, a small group of bees behave differently from the others—and it is precisely these bees that discover a disproportionately large number of new food sources. Diversity helps populations survive. This workshop shows that neurodiversity can similarly benefit our teams and organizations.
Together with Dr. Nic Selzer and Dr. Elisabeth Klein, we will begin by looking at examples from nature before exploring what they can teach us about our everyday working lives.
What forms of neurodiversity do we encounter—ADHD, autism, AuDHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and synesthesia—and what do they mean in practical terms for how we work together? In small groups, we will explore these different ways of thinking and being and consider: What strengths can they bring to our teams? What barriers arise in workplaces that tacitly assume there is a “normal” way of thinking? And how can we work together to remove these barriers?
Through interactive exercises, we will experience some of these perspectives and develop practical measures for our everyday working lives, ranging from small adjustments to structural changes. We will ask ourselves: What can each of us start doing tomorrow to ensure that different ways of thinking are not merely tolerated but recognized and valued as an asset?
The event will be held in German.
Popakademie Talk meets Diversity Days – Promoting democracy as a responsibility of the arts and higher education
7–9 p.m., Popakademie Mannheim, Hafenstr. 33, 68159 Mannheim
Organized by the Department of Equal Opportunity and Diversity and Popakademie Mannheim
As part of society, higher education institutions have not only an educational role but also a broader social responsibility. What role should the promotion of democratic values play in this context? As part of the University of Mannheim’s Diversity Week and the Popakademie Talks, we will discuss this question from both higher education and artistic perspectives.
The event will be held in German. For further information please follow this link.
Wednesday, 21 October 2026
(Severe) disability?! Questions and facts
10:15–11:15 a.m., hybrid: ExpLAB and Zoom
Organized by the representative for employees with a severe disability and the commissioner and counselor for students with a disability or a chronic illness, and moderated by Meike Funkhauser and Caterina Katzer
What does “(severe) disability” actually mean? Who is legally considered to have a disability or a severe disability? What support and advisory services does the University of Mannheim offer employees and students? Accessibility at the university: What is working well, and where do barriers remain? What can we all do to enable greater participation? Caterina Katzer, commissioner and counselor for students with a disability or a chronic illness, and Meike Funkhauser, assistant to the representative for employees with a severe disability, will answer frequently asked questions about disability and severe disability. There will be plenty of time after the presentation for your own questions. We also welcome your feedback on the topic.
The event will be held in German.
Thursday, 22 October 2026
Perspectives in Research. Panel discussion and poster session on current diversity and gender research
12:45–3:15 p.m., ExpLAB
Organized by the Department of Equal Opportunity and Diversity and moderated by Dr. Anna Adendorf and Dr. Izadora Silva Pimenta
Diversity and gender research thrives on a diversity of perspectives. Our panel discussion, followed by a poster session, provides a space for interdisciplinary exchange, networking, and sharing the wide range of research being conducted at the University of Mannheim.
During the panel discussion, researchers will present their current projects. The speakers will be announced here shortly.
In the subsequent poster session, students and researchers will present their projects in an interactive format.
The event is open to anyone interested in gaining insights into current diversity and gender research and engaging in interdisciplinary exchange. We look forward to an inspiring exchange of ideas, perspectives, and experiences.
For further information regarding registration please message diversityuni-mannheim.de
The event will be held in German and English.