Fair together

Berlin offers a wide range of gender research at its universities and universities of applied sciences.

The foundations for this development were laid in the 1980s. At that time, the first centres for women’s research were founded at the universities and representatives for women’s issues were appointed. By the end of the decade, the first programs to fund women’s research at state universities were established. And finally in 1990 the position of Women’s Affairs Officer was firmly anchored in the State University Act (BerlHG) as a full-time position for all Berlin universities.  

Berlin has been in the top position in gender equality rankings in a direct country comparison since 2005. The proportion of female professors at Berlin universities is now around 32 percent, with new appointments it is even 46 percent (status: 2020).

The number of female doctoral candidates has also risen continuously in recent years. At the end of 2019, it was just under 50 percent.

What does the Brain City do differently?

Legal framework conditions have been created in the capital
 

• such as the Berliner Hochschulgesetz (Berlin Higher Education Act, BerlHG)
• or the Landesgleichstellungsgesetz (Berlin State Equal Opportunities Act, LGG).  

Women and gender research is firmly anchored at universities
 

• by means of designated professorships, established research centres and a large number of other measures. 

• through the Berliner Programm zur Förderung der Chancengleichheit für Frauen in Forschung und Lehre (Berlin Program to Promote Equal Opportunities for Women in Research and Teaching, BCP). With a volume of approximately 3.8 million euros per year, it is intended to provide targeted support to universities in removing structural barriers that impair equal opportunities and to sustainably improve the representation of women in research and teaching. Established in 2001, the BCP was extended for six years on April 27, 2021.