Diversity Audit of the University of Klagenfurt

Process

Preparations for the Diversity Audit

Starting in 2022, the preparatory tasks for the Diversity Audit were met by Christina Terle (AKG) and Kirstin Mertlitsch (UZF*G) with the assistance of Rebecca Forster (Stud. Ass. AKG) and Noreen Schneiders (Stud. Ass. UZF*G). The Control Circuit and Steering Committee were established at the beginning of the year.

In May of 2022, the drafting of the self-report began. The self-report describes the university’s starting position, explicitly regarding the composition of staff and students as well as the already established diversity measures, the strategic prioritization, and formulates the diversity-orientated goals for each field of action.

Simultaneously and in the spirit of participation, a survey on the existing diversity measures and diversity climate at the University of Klagenfurt was designed and conducted. More than 300 people took part in the study, which was executed within the time period between the 22nd of March and the 5th of April 2022. The results influenced the self-report, specifically regarding the strategy and goals of the diversity audit.

The steering committee and the control circuit will be established between January and March. In February and March, the self-report and the conception of the diversity survey will take place. Furthermore, the job advertisement for the Diversity Coordinator will be published. The self-report will be written in March and April, and the diversity survey will be issued. Furthermore, the first meeting of the steering committee will be held, and the Diversity Auditor will be chosen. From April until June, the first self-report will be finalized, the second meeting of the steering committee will take place, and the cooperation agreement will be signed. In June, the self-report will be forwarded, and the Diversity Coordinator’s employment begins officially. From July until September, the Public Relations work and the preparation for the Kick-off-Workshop will start.

Start of the Project

In the fall of 2022, the audit will officially be initiated. This initiation begins with a state analysis: Within one of the first steps, the existing structures of the University of Klagenfurt will be analysed regarding their strengths, weaknesses, chances, and risks (SWOT analysis). The steering committee will consider the outcomes and the resulting concepts of this analysis(Kick-off-Workshop on the 19th of October 2022).

Regarding the long-term future, two further workshops will be held within the Diversity Audit: a reflection workshop around the mid-point of the audit (2023) and a certificate workshop at the end of the procedure. In the remaining time between the two workshops, the working groups’ tasks will be to conceptualize and implement the various measures, which will also be recorded in the final report. The certificate and the certification for official participation in the Diversity Audit will presumably be granted in June or July of 2024.

In October of 2022, the Kick-off-Workshop will take place. From October 2022 until June 2023, the measures regarding the diversity strategy will be developed and implemented. After that, the reflection workshop will take place in June of 2023. From June 2023 until March 2024, the final report will be designed. In March and April, the certification workshop will be held. The certificate will officially be granted to the University of Klagenfurt in June/July 2024.

Strategy planning

The diversity strategy designed within the audit should re-enforce situated, sustainable and inclusive measures for the benefit of student and staff diversity at the University of Klagenfurt. Among others, central concerns include inter-/transculturality and multilingualism, migration and refuge, gender diversity, accessibility, sustainability, class and hierarchical issues in the context of working in a university, First Generation Students, and further training. Considering these various areas should lead to a solidary togetherness based on intersectionality, empowerment, and participation.

Within this collaborative effort, the following steps will be relevant:

Diversity as a cross-sectional task for the entire university
An intersectional, participatory and solidary approach as well as support through empowerment
Bundling of existing offers and measures
Gender and diversity monitoring
Networking and visualization within and beyond the university
Creating structural frameworks for sustainable anchoring and development.