Women Professors' Program 2030 at KIT ("Professorinnenprogramm 2030")

The Professorinnenprogramm 2030 is a joint initiative by the federal and state governments to advance gender equality in science. Its objectives are to increase the proportion of women in professorships and leadership roles, make academic career paths more predictable, and strengthen a gender-equitable university culture. KIT successfully submitted its gender equality concept and received funding approval in 2024. Two funding applications for professorships have since been submitted, and the implementation of additional gender equality measures was initiated.
Contacts Professorinnenprogramm 2030

Ines Köhler, Leitung Chancengleichheits- und Diversitätsmanagement, Projektleitung Professorinnenprogramm 2030

Franka Keßler, Projektkoordination

Overview of gender equality measures initiated with the programme

Mastering Work-Family Life Balance – specific support for parents working in science and research facing childcare shortages

This measure consists of three components to address the needs of work-family-life balance as effectively as possible:

  • Expansion of emergency childcare for daycare and kindergarten children.
  • Acute counseling in cases of childcare shortages, both during sudden shortages in childcare and in the preboarding phase, to help find suitable childcare options near the place of residence at an early stage.
  • Prevention through online training, covering key topics such as role conflicts between parenthood and an academic career, resilience during childcare crises and transition phases, and managing mental load – with the goal of freeing up mental space for research.

 

Requirements-based support for early-career female researchers in research networks

To sustainably strengthen equal opportunities in research networks, KIT pursues a systematic, needs-oriented approach to supporting early-career female researchers. The goal is to allocate gender equality funds effectively and address individual needs in a targeted manner – including across networks. Measures are based on scientific and HR insights and undergo regular evaluation, ensuring a high-quality, continuous offering for career development.

 

Contacts: Antje Wiggenhauser as contact person for the measure Mastering Work-Life Balance

 

Scouting excellent female scientists

To improve outreach to qualified female scientists and researchers, scouting activities will be strengthened in each division. Appointment committees will receive support in identifying potential candidates. A monitoring system will also be introduced to assess and secure the long-term effectiveness of this measure.
 

Contacts: Katrin Vinel for Area 1 and Luca Marie Fröhlig for Areas 3 & 5; contacts for Areas 2 & 4 will be added later.

 

Analysis and improvement of working conditions for female professors at KIT

Building on pilot studies conducted in 2021/2022 and 2024/2025, KIT will carry out a revised, evidence-based analysis of the conditions for female professors. Unlike previous samples, this analysis will include all appointed professors to identify trends in salary, resources, and visibility. An online survey will complement the analysis. Both will be evaluated with external expertise and integrated into regular gender monitoring processes. This will enable continuous assessment of the gender pay gap. Findings will be incorporated into appointment management and related processes to improve conditions for female professors and enhance the overall quality of gender equality work at KIT.

 

Systematic gender competence development

To strengthen gender equality stakeholders at KIT, needs will be assessed and targeted measures developed. These include online training on gender-related topics, role-empowerment workshops, and individual coaching for selected groups. Managers and equality actors will thus be supported in building competence and fostering integrated processes and collaboration.

 

Expansion of dual career services and onboarding

To further develop Dual Career Services and pre-/onboarding for professors at KIT, the needs of the target group and existing offers will be comprehensively analyzed, supplemented by national and international benchmarks. The goal is to design targeted measures and additional support services beyond current offerings.

 

Contacts for these measures will be announced shortly.