Family-friendly University
The University of Tübingen was awarded the ‘family-friendly university’ certificate by berufundfamilie gGmbH in 2014, which was extended for another three years in 2017, 2020 and 2023. The aim is to optimise and expand family-friendly structures, as the compatibility of work/study with family responsibilities is a central cornerstone of an equality-oriented, future-oriented university. The target agreements and measures, as well as further information on the audit, can be found on the Team Equity website.
Measures taken by the Faculty of Arts
Family-friendly committee meeting times
The meeting times for the Executive Board, Faculty Council and Doctoral and Habilitation Committee are fixed on a permanent basis, allowing for planning. The committee dates for the following semester are announced as early as possible. Both the Faculty Executive Board and the Faculty Council always meet at family-friendly times (from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., without extension). Dates for the study commissions are agreed upon with all commission members.
Studying with family responsibilities
Students with family responsibilities have the opportunity to organise their studies more flexibly. Further information can be found on the pages of Team Equity.
Faculty Equal Opportunities Officer Programme
The faculty programme is supported by all departments and is aimed at postdoctoral researchers with children and family responsibilities through the ‘More Time’ programme, which offers support for balancing academic work and family life.
Advice for young scientists with children
In addition, we advise our young scientists in the Dean's Office on further external and intramural funding opportunities, such as the Athene programme, which also has funds for childcare in its funding programme.
Support for scientists with family responsibilities in the context of collaborative research
All of the faculty's collaborative research centres offer support and counselling/coaching for scientists with family responsibilities as part of their equality programme.
Family-friendly conditions at conferences at the faculty
Childcare at conferences enables or facilitates participation for some parents and thus makes an important contribution to the compatibility of academic careers and family life. For conferences held at the faculty, the children's room in the Brechtbau building can be used free of charge. A subsidy for childcare costs can be applied for. Qualified childcare and the necessary insurance cover must be provided by the applicants themselves.
Further measures to promote women in science can be found on the pages of the faculty's equal opportunities officer.
Family room in Brechtbau
The family room in the Brechtbau building can be used privately by students and staff for short-term childcare. If necessary, the room is also available as a relaxation room during pregnancy.
The room was furnished with funds from the Equal Opportunities Commission and offers a changing table, a recliner, a workstation with a desk and space for toddlers to play.
If you would like to use the room, please fill out the application for the use of the family room or relaxation room and send it signed by post or email to gleichstellungspam prevention@philosophie.uni-tuebingen.de, who will then add you to the list of authorised users. The list is kept by the Brechtbaubibliothek, which will give you the key upon presentation of your student ID card if required. The authorisation to use the room is initially valid for three years and can be extended if necessary; to do so, please send us the completed form with your current user data again after the three years have expired.
Further information on short-term/emergency childcare and work in the event of children's illness, as well as general information on family life on campus, can be found on the Team Equity and Care homepage.