Focus on gender aspects

The BMBF-funded GO Research project has been running at the University of Bayreuth since January 2024. It is part of the nationwide funding guideline “Gender Aspects in Focus” (Geschlechteraspekte im Blick; GiB). As a structural development concept, it aims to promote the inclusion of gender aspects in research at the University of Bayreuth and to establish this as a quality feature for excellent research and a cross-cutting topic throughout the university. Central to this is the gender relevance check as a standard of excellent research. It takes into account the concerns of all people and recognizes that research results can have different consequences for different genders.

Kick-off event

The kick-off event of the “GO Research” project will take place on May 15, 2024 from 2 to 4 p.m. in conference room 3 in building RW I. It offers the opportunity to find out more about the objectives, measures and the planned course of the project and serves as a platform for professional exchange and networking between all those involved. All interested parties are cordially invited to take part in this important milestone and pave the way together for a gender-equitable research landscape.

Measures of the “GO Research” project

A dedicated project team is working on various measures to implement the project.

Measure 1 is aimed at students. As part of the seminar “Oh no, did I forget about gender? Mind the gap!", students learn the basics of gender studies and theory and are sensitized to the connections between power relations and social inequality. At the same time, they acquire the skills to analyze and critically reflect on the significance of gender from an intersectional perspective. This course is organized as part of the Studium Generale and will be offered every semester from summer semester 2024.

As part of measure 2, the GO Research Workshop Talks, students and researchers are given the opportunity to get in touch with each other and discuss the challenges of incorporating gender aspects into term papers and theses from an intersectional perspective. In addition, the GO Research Award is presented once a year to recognize the best GO Research thesis in order to highlight and reward the importance of gender in research. The prize is endowed with €500.

Measure 3 promotes gender-oriented research at the University of Bayreuth. In cooperation with the Research Funding Service Center, the GO Research Budget offers financial support for new, inter- and transdisciplinary research collaborations within the campus with a focus on gender aspects and diversity dimensions. The funds raised can be used as material and auxiliary funding, for a publication or for outreach measures.

In order to design gender-oriented research projects and applications, young researchers need specific knowledge. This is taught as part of Measure 4: WiN-Fund-GO and GO Research Additional Certificate. In cooperation with the WiN Academy at the University of Bayreuth, we offer a series of workshops and events in which young researchers can acquire the necessary know-how. There they have the opportunity to familiarize themselves intensively with the gender relevance check required in many third-party funding applications or to delve deeper into the topic with the GO Research additional certificate.

Measure 5 is dedicated to the nationwide exchange of universities funded under the “Gender Aspects in Focus” funding guideline at federal level. Through this initiative, we achieve nationwide visibility for gender-oriented research and enable both structural embedding and networking.

Coordination and advisory board

The project team consists of three contact persons from the Equal Opportunities Service Center:

• Miriam Bauch: Project management
• Dr. Elena Köstner: Overall coordination of the project and coordination of measures 1, 2 and 5
• Britta Bayer: Coordination of measures 3 and 4

The implementation of the project is supported by an advisory board made up of people from academia, business and society:

• Shirin Assa: PhD student at the Department of English Literature and Anglophone Literatures at the University of Bayreuth, expert in intersectionality studies
• Rebekka Endler: Journalist, book author and podcaster as well as cooperation partner in the project “One university - one book”
• Dr. Dagmar Höppel: Head of the office of the State Conference of Equal Opportunities Officers (LaKoG) in Baden-Württemberg, commission spokesperson at the Federal Conference of Women's and Equal Opportunities Officers (bukof)
• Dr. Meike Lauggas: Independent trainer, coach, organizational consultant and lecturer in gender studies
• Nerissa Schwarz: Full-time Equal Opportunities Officer for the City of Bayreuth
• Prof. Dr. Brigitta Wöhrl: Emerita and former University Women's Representative at the University of Bayreuth
• Gabriele Zedlmayer: Social Innovator for social and environmental issues and President of the Women’s Advisory Board of HypoVereinsbank