07.11.2025 Third funding round: "nachhaltig chancengleich!" started - - Four departments awarded contracts for gender equality projects

University of Marburg supports projects in psychology, Protestant theology, mathematics and computer science as well as pharmacy

Since 2021, Philipps-Universität Marburg has been supporting innovative gender equality projects in departments, centers and institutions with the “nachhaltig chancengleich!” funding line. The third funding round is now starting: the central Equal Opportunities Commission has selected four projects from a total of nine applications submitted, which will be implemented by the end of 2027.

The aim of the funding line is to create sustainable structures that permanently strengthen gender equality and diversity in research, studies and teaching. Funding is provided from third-party funds raised through the Federal and State Women Professors Program.

Projects in the following departments are being funded in the third round:

Psychology: RISEher - Reach. Inspire. Support. Empower. Her. Establishment of a mentoring program for women*
Protestant theology: Facilitation of congress and lecture trips for female* scientists with family responsibilities
Mathematics and computer science: Motivation of female* students to pursue a doctorate
Pharmacy: Women* in medicine and natural sciences. Development of a permanent exhibition with portraits of twelve female* scientists

The funding line is continuing its successful development in the third round: in the first two rounds (2021-2023, 2024-2025), eight projects were implemented in seven departments - from mentoring programs and exhibitions to teaching innovations and coaching offers. Many of these projects were made permanent, such as the Else von Behring mentoring program at the Faculty of Medicine or the Alix Westerkamp mentoring program at the Faculty of Law. The current projects are funded with between €5,000 and €15,000.

“With nachhaltig chancengleich! we are able to bring gender equality work directly into the structures of the departments and anchor it there permanently,” says Prof. Dr. Bettina Wuttig, Chair of the central Equal Opportunities Commission at Philipps-Universität. “The projects show impressively how diverse and creative gender equality work is at our university.”

“We are particularly pleased about the great interest and the range of topics - from career advancement and family friendliness to the visibility of women* in science and teaching,” adds Prof. Dr. Sabine Pankuweit, Vice President for Equal Opportunities and Career Development.

There are also voices from the funded projects themselves: “Through our project at nachhaltig chancengleich! we promote networking among female* students and create space to directly experience the value and versatility of scientific work as part of a structured offer,” says Prof. Dr. István Heckenberger, coordinator of the project at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.