Fit for Future

Projects "Equal opportunities and inclusion"

Living inclusive infrastructure & barrier-free study and work environment

In order to ensure that existing buildings are barrier-free, a tour was carried out for the first time with the building owners and a disability organization. Recommendations for improvements are to be identified on future tours.

The Equal Opportunities Department aims to provide a point of contact for people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, offering clarification and advice. For example, support is to be provided in organizing compensation for disadvantages and best practices are to be networked and collected. In addition, university members are to be sensitized and informed about important topics. A two-hour online learning unit (iLUB) on the topic of "Digital accessibility in studies, teaching and research" is currently being developed to implement these goals. There will also be a course for university staff with teaching assignments to expand their skills in the area of inclusive teaching and accessibility.

uniaktuell-Artikel: «Menschen mit Behinderung haben das gleiche Recht auf Bildung» (German only)

uniaktuell-Artikel: Durch Selbsterfahrung für Behinderungen sensibilisiert (German only)

University: Respectful and inclusive study and work environment - University of Bern

Science and leadership culture: Better Science Initiative

Work at the university is to be characterised by sustainability, diversity and equal opportunities: This is the key to achieving academic excellence. A fair, respectful and responsible environment encourages university members in their work. The Better Science Initiative promotes the discourse on excellence in science and teaching. Ten calls to action for all university members show how they can work towards a diverse and sustainable scientific culture. 

University: Academic culture - University of Bern 

Better Science | Join us! 

University: Fixing Academia: Towards a Culture of Collaboration

Support for management: tools for implementing the DORA declaration

A "DORA" working group, consisting of VRQ, VRF and VRI, will be set up to develop the following measures:

  •  Access to information material on the implementation of the DORA declaration, taking into account aspects of equal opportunities and inclusion
  •  Development of a tool to query the net academic age, which will be made available to the election committees (in collaboration with the Faculty of Humanities)
  •  Training for university staff on the topic of evaluation, possible biases and peer review (in cooperation with the ILUB)
  •  A microsite with further links and tools is currently being prepared
  • The videos are about to be published and will be communicated together with the website at the beginning of FS 2025

DORA Declaration

Status: December 2024