The sky’s the limit
The inclusion of people with disabilities is an important aspect of diversity management. Promoting equal opportunities on the job market and in academic careers is very important to us, which is why we are involved in the Universities Austria initiative “Promotion ohne Limit” (PromoLi), together with 8 other universities.
This career initiative aims to create long-term positions at Austrian universities that allow eligible persons with a disability or chronic illness to pursue an academic or artistic career. Funding for the 4-year positions is provided with the support of the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection. WU takes this initiative one step further, however, and advertises its PromoLi position as 6-year position, like all other pre-doc teaching and research associate positions. The additional costs are borne by WU, and the position was filled in 2019.
Supporting refugees
We offered internships for refugees for the 7th time in 2019. These internships are intended to help people who have been granted asylum in Austria, especially refugees who have begun or completed an academic education in their home countries, gain access to the job market. 28 people have completed the 3-month internship to date, and feedback has been very positive. Many of our former interns have found a job in the meantime.
We are part of culture
In September, we hosted the travelling exhibition “WE ARE PART OF CULTURE” on Campus WU. The exhibition features over 30 portraits of LGBTTIQ* personalities who have made their mark on European society and culture, for example Virginia Woolf, Leonardo da Vinci, John Maynard Keynes, and Selma Lagerlöf. The artistic styles in the collection are as diverse as the personalities portrayed.
At the opening, Vice-Rector Michael Lang expressed how pleased WU was to be hosting “WE ARE PART OF CULTURE.” The exhibition presents important role models and makes the diverse range of sexual orientations and identities of historically influential people visible. Diversity is particularly important to WU, which strives to be a place where students, faculty, and staff can discover their full potential.
Sanitary facilities for everyone
WU introduced gender-neutral restrooms on campus in October 2019. Gender neutral means that the facilities can be used by anyone, regardless of sex and gender.
The way restroom facilities are normally assigned only to women or men excludes all those who cannot or do not want to identify as either gender. To prevent exclusion and uncomfortable situations and to make WU even more inclusive, we decided to open one restroom in each building for everyone.
This change to Campus WU was our contribution to the “Divörsity – Austrian Diversity Days” initiative.
Religious diversity
Die WU widmete sich 2019 im Rahmen des Diversitätsmanagements der Frage, welchen Platz Religionen an Hochschulen einnehmen sollen:
- At a panel discussion held as part of the ‘WU matters. WU talks.’ event series, participants agreed that while religion and spirituality should have a place at universities, they should be kept out of the classroom.
- A project group was formed to discuss how to remodel our on-campus silent room to fulfill the needs of everyone who uses it. A remodelling concept and a usage plan were drafted, both of which will be implemented in 2020.
- Offering a wide range of culinary specialties is an important part of the WU Summer Celebration. All food trucks at the event offered at least one vegetarian dish, and the burgers were made of 100% beef. Kosher and vegan foods were also available.
