How we work

As a Cluster of Excellence, we are committed to fostering outstanding working conditions. We believe this includes ensuring fair treatment, free from both structural and individual discrimination. In order to uphold our values of diversity and equity, we concentrated on early career researchers, recognizing their particularly vulnerable career stage, and collaborated closely with the administrative framework of the University of Stuttgart to develop reliable and transparent solutions. Through these efforts, we have significantly contributed to shaping long-term, university-wide initiatives in diversity and equity. The issues we address are guided by the needs of SimTech's members.

The SimTech Committee for Diversity and Equity took and takes part in several initiatives:

Audit Familienfreundliche Hochschule
In 2022 Uni Stuttgart received the permanent certification as a family friendly university. The procedure entailed four dialogue-sessions in which SimTech committee members contributed with their special expertise in the topics network, care work and human resource management.
Diversity Audit
In 2023 Uni Stuttgart embarked on the process of earning a Diversity Certificate. In the Steering Committee which has been established through the audit process, all experts involved develop strategies for implementing measures towards a university-wide and sustainable diversity strategy. SimTech is represented in the Steering Committee and actively participates in the working group on diversity-sensitive education. A special focus of SimTech is set on supporting persons in new leadership positions (Junior Professors, Junior Research Group Leaders) in increasing the skills needed to excel in their respective leadership or advisory positions. SimTech also contributes to the working group “Diversity Monitoring”, improving data collection and analysis for the benefit of an effective diversity strategy.
Working Group for Education and Social Inequality
Research highlights that systemic factors within educational institutions often reinforce existing disparities, affecting access and outcomes based on students' backgrounds. The intersection of education with social background (and further diversity dimensions such as nationality or health) reveals how institutional practices and policies affect individuals in their later professional lives or academic careers, thereby contributing to the reproduction of social inequality. Understanding these dynamics is essential for developing strategies to create a more equitable educational system. SimTech is involved in the Working Group for Education and Social Inequality. The members of the group focus on raising awareness of socio-economic and educational-cultural factors among all those involved at the university, particularly lecturers and information centers.