Gender Equality at the Department of Biology, University of Münster

Equal Opportunity Office of the University of Münster
Contact Persons for Cases of Sexual Harassment and Discrimination

Equal Opportunities Officers of the Faculty of Biology
Equal Opportunities Commission of the Faculty of Biology
Studying with child
Financial support
Scholarship Program: Women Manage University

The main objectives of gender equality at the University of Münster are to improve career opportunities for women, particularly in male-dominated academic fields. A key focus is on making academic careers more compatible with family life. To support this, the Departmental Council elects gender equality officers who represent women's interests within the department and provide organizational and advisory support to female students and researchers. In addition, specific measures and targets are developed and regularly revised in women's advancement plans to promote gender equality effectively.
A central goal of the University of Münster’s gender equality policy is to improve the compatibility of academic studies, career, and family life. Since these challenges are not exclusive to women, many of the initiatives are designed to support all genders. Furthermore, increasing attention is being paid to the fact that compatibility issues may arise not only from childcare responsibilities but also from caregiving for other family members.
To achieve these objectives, gender equality officers are elected by the Departmental Council to advocate for equality within the department and support students and researchers in both organizational and advisory roles. Women's advancement plans define concrete measures and targets for the effective promotion of women in academia and are continuously updated.

In addition to the University of Münster’s overarching Gender Equality Framework Plan, the Department of Biology has developed its own Women’s Advancement Plan tailored to the department’s specific needs and circumstances.

Department of Biology Gender Equality Plan (2019)

Current Situation
In contrast to many other STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), the Department of Biology at the University of Münster has a relatively balanced gender ratio. While the proportion of women is high during studies and in the early stages of academic careers, and maintaining this is a primary focus, women remain underrepresented in mid-level academic positions and especially in professorships (see Figure 1). Targeted support measures are therefore essential to achieve long-term gender balance at all academic levels.

Fig. 1

Figure 1: Percentage of women across differnt academic career stages in the Department of Biology at the University of Münster.