The Audit
In 2021 the Diversity Council proposed a recommendation for participation in the Diversity Audit “Vielfalt Gestalten”, organized by the “Stifterverband”, a founding association for German science.
The University of Klagenfurt was the first Austrian higher education institution to complete this Diversity Audit in 2024.
The auditing process combines elements of organizational development with collegial advice, supported by external auditor Prof. Dr. Andrea Bührmann (director of the Institute for Diversity Research at the Georg-August-University Göttingen). The audit will support the University of Klagenfurt in the process of creating a strategic diversity management.
The resulting measures are intended to adequately reflect the diversity of students, teachers and the staff at the university. Barriers for disadvantaged groups are to be systematically dismantled, in order to foster a sustainable, appreciative and inclusive university culture. The audit’s aim lies in structuring existing measures, conceptualizing improvement measures and implementing new measures sustainably.
The diversity strategy was divided into four fields of action:
- Strategy and structure
- Studying and teaching
- Communication, participation and information technologies (IT)
- Human resource management
To include a variety of different perspectives in the two-year auditing process, participation of students and employees was regarded as crucial. Therefore, a central concern of the audit has been to include all university members in the process and give them the opportunity to help shape the diversity management at the University of Klagenfurt.
Steps in the audit process
2022: PREP WORK AND PROJECT START
In 2022, Kirstin Mertlitsch (UZF*G) and Christina Terle (AKG) with the support of Rebecca Forster (student assistant) and Noreen Schneiders (student assistant). started preparing for the start of the diversity audit. As a first step, a steering group and a steering committee were set up in January 2022.
Preparations for the self-report began in March 2022. The self-report describes the university’s initial situation, particularly with regard to the composition of staff and students as well as established diversity measures. It comprises the strategic focus and diversity-oriented goals for the respective fields of action.
At the same time, a survey on existing diversity measures and the diversity climate at the university was designed and carried out as part of a participatory process. More than 300 people took part in the survey, which was conducted between March 22, 2022 and April 5, 2022. The results were incorporated into the self-report, particularly with regard to overall strategies and goals.
The audit was officially initiated in fall 2022 and started with an analysis of the current situation. In an initial kick-off workshop, the university’s existing structures were analysed with regard to strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT analysis). The results and the concept derived from the discussions were then coordinated by the steering committee (Kick-Off Workshop on October 19, 2022).
2023: DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MEASURES BY THE WORKING GROUPS & REFLECTION WORKSHOP
Four working groups were tasked with the conception and implementation of measures. The “Strategy and Structure” working group was working on implementing a diversity strategy at the University of Klagenfurt. This was presented to the Senate in fall 2023 and anchored in the university’s development plan (2025-2030) following a positive opinion.
The working group “Studies and Teaching” focused on creating a toolbox to promote diversity-inclusive didactics. In addition, measures were developed in the areas of incoming students and diversity in research.
The working group “Communication, Participation and Information Technology” dealt with the area of diversity-inclusive language at the university and drew up a language recommendation for the University of Klagenfurt, which was published in graphic form in summer 2024. The working group is also dedicated to improving the accessibility of IT systems and the use of gender- and diversity-inclusive language in these systems.
The working group “Human Resources Management” is working on improving the onboarding process at the university. It began implementing initial awareness-raising measures for all university staff in spring 2023.
The second workshop of the diversity audit, a reflection workshop in which measures and strategies were evaluated, took place on June 29, 2023. The discussion included ideas for an improvement of interface management between the working groups and organizational units. A total of 30 people from all working groups took part. Roberta Schaller-Steidl, Head of the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Department of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, gave a presentation on developments and challenges in dealing with diversity issues and Andrea Bührmann held a lunchtime talk on the use of intersectionality perspectives in the design of diversity strategies at universities.
2024: INALIZATION OF THE AUDIT: 2ND SELF-REPORT, CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP AND CEREMONIAL AWARDING OF THE CERTIFICATE
The 2nd self-report or final report was prepared and submitted to the Stifterverband at the beginning of May 2024. On May 15, 2024, the certification workshop and the ceremonial awarding of the certificate took place as part of the AAU’s Second Diversity Day. The workshop discussed the framework conditions for further joint work. At the closing event in the afternoon, Bettina Jorzik from the Stifterverband für die deutsche Wissenschaft e.V. (Donors’ Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany) ceremoniously awarded the certificate to the University of Klagenfurt.
2025 – 2027: OUTLOOK AND NEXT STEPS
The University of Klagenfurt is seeking to apply for a re-audit in fall 2027. Until then, the diversity and inclusion management is to be put on a broad footing and secured with appropriate resources. The measures of the diversity audit are to be continued and new measures are to be added. (see Development Plan 2025-2030).
