University of Mannheim Once Again Certified as a Family-Friendly University

Once again, the University of Mannheim has successfully completed the audit familiengerechte hochschule of berufundfamilie Service GmbH. This confirms the university’s high development level and its sustainable commitment to personnel policies which take the employees’ family responsibilities and life phases into account. The certificate will be officially awarded on 13 June 2023 in Berlin. The audit is under the patronage of Lisa Paus, Germany’s Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, who will also join the celebration.

Kanzlerin Dr. Katrin Schoppa-Bauer und Rektor Professor Dr. Thomas Puhl halten ein Zertifikat in den Händen und lächeln in die Kamera. — Executive Vice President Dr. Katrin Schoppa-Bauer und President Prof. Dr. Thomas Puhl with the certificate

Since the first audit in 2006, the University of Mannheim has implemented extensive measures to enable its members to reconcile family and career and/or studies. This includes an initial point of contact and counseling services as well as an advisor for employees who are caring for care-dependent relatives for finding solutions for individual problems. The university also offers flexible work time models such as flexitime and telework as well as a Parent and Child Room and reserved spots at the childcare center of the Studierendenwerk Mannheim. Other support measures are childcare during school holidays, a parents’ network, maternity leave for students, and consulting services for degree planning and examination organization. The FAiR@UMA program supports early-stage researchers with family obligations and the revised guidelines on professorial appointments take the reconciliation of family and work during the appointment process into account.

After being successfully re-audited as scheduled, the University of Mannheim was permanently awarded the family-friendly university certificate in 2017. The certificate is now renewed every three years in a dialog process.

Text: Editorial team/December 2023