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3nd quarter

Reporting period July 1 - September 30, 2025

Gender equality work

• In keeping with the summer season, a special highlight of the WiMINToring mentoring program for early-career female scientists took place on July 12, 2025: a nature coaching session in the Harz National Park. Amidst the impressive landscape, the participants took the opportunity to gain new perspectives, develop professional clarity, and consciously perceive and strengthen their personal strength. The program will continue in the fall with another workshop on October 10, 2025. Under the title “Communicate Personally and Effectively – Strategies for Female Scientists,” the workshop will specifically strengthen communication skills and confidence in scientific contexts. The current mentoring cycle will conclude with a closing event including a final evaluation on November 14, 2025, which will also provide space for reflection, exchange, and networking.

• On September 5, 2025, the final networking evening of the women’s network “Women & Science at TU Clausthal” took place under the title “Founders for the Future - How Women are Rethinking Business.” Since startups remain strongly male-dominated, it became clear how important courageous ideas and female role models are. Participants received exciting impulses and practical insights into founding paths. A special highlight was the guest lecture by Lisa Wendzich, political advisor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of the startup Suncrafter. She impressively demonstrated how entrepreneurship, social responsibility, and technical innovation can be successfully combined. The event concluded with a shared buffet that offered ample opportunity for personal exchange, conversations, and new contacts. Overall, the evening was perceived by all involved as inspiring, enriching, and successful.

• On September 18, 2025, the workshop “Recognizing, Naming, and Ending Sexism” was held for the tutors of the Welcome Weeks at TU Clausthal. As the first contact persons for new students, the tutors play a special role in shaping the university atmosphere. The workshop aimed to empower the participants to promote a climate characterized by respect, appreciation, and freedom from discrimination. In addition to imparting knowledge, the focus was especially on developing confidence in action: being attentive, responding sensitively, and clearly setting boundaries. Through this, tutors set a visible sign against sexism and for an open, safe coexistence at TU Clausthal. Another workshop on this topic for students is planned for November 7, 2025, with a follow-up session scheduled for January 15, 2026, in person.

• On September 1, the current cycle of the Lower Saxony Internship (Niedersachsen-Technikum) began, in which participants gain insights into studies and professional practice in STEM (MINT) fields. The goal is to inspire young women to pursue a technical or scientific degree at our university. This year, two female interns are participating at TU Clausthal. Both have a particular interest in recycling and are therefore placed in relevant companies in the region. They have so far shown great commitment and interest a good basis for the program’s successful progress and a possible decision for subsequent study. Nationwide, 41 interns are participating in this cycle. They were welcomed on September 9, 2025, at a festive kick-off event in Osnabrück. Following the event, the new interns had the opportunity to exchange ideas and network. In workshops and team-building activities, they got to know each other, shared expectations, and received valuable suggestions from former participants. The Lower Saxony Internship celebrates its 15th anniversary this year and has established itself as a proven program for career and study orientation for high school graduates in STEM fields with the goal of attracting young women to STEM career paths.

Diversity management

• TU Clausthal is characterized by the diversity of its members. To further develop this lived diversity and incorporate it into a comprehensive concept for the systematic implementation of equal opportunities, TU Clausthal applied for participation in the Diversity Audit "Shaping Diversity" of the Stifterverband in 2020 and successfully completed it after about 2,5 years. In February 2023, the university received the certificate. To continue carrying this important award in the future, the re-audit process is now underway. The re-audit "Shaping Diversity" serves to review, consolidate, and further develop the diversity strategy and measures developed in the initial audit. It includes two main components: the self-report, in which the university reflects on which structures and activities have been established so far and where further action is needed; and the peer review, in which external experts review the documents and provide recommendations for further development. After successful completion, the validity of the "Shaping Diversity" certificate is extended by another three years. This ensures that the award remains not only a visible symbol for TU Clausthal but also a binding framework to sustainably continue the initiated measures for promoting diversity, equal opportunity, and inclusion.

• On July 7, 2025, the annual meeting of the Accessibility Working Group took place. As every year, the focus was on updating the declaration of accessibility. In addition, the working group addressed current developments and challenges in the areas of digital and structural accessibility. In digital accessibility, TU Clausthal has now reached a very good level. The last major measure was the introduction of speech-to-text services, so that all videos on the university’s own video server are now equipped with automatically generated subtitles. This achieved an important step toward a more inclusive digital offering. A special focus this year was on structural accessibility. As a first concrete measure, a mobile ramp was installed in the university library to facilitate barrier-free access. This ramp can also be borrowed as needed for events at other university locations. As a next step, the working group plans to develop and implement a solution for barrier-free access to the central advisory offices at TU Clausthal.

• Increasingly, more students identify as neurodiverse. For them, studying means not only academic engagement but also sensitive handling of sensory stimuli, social dynamics, and structural barriers. At TU Clausthal, it is therefore an important concern to create learning spaces that meet different needs and enable genuine inclusive studying. A significant step in this direction was implemented in the university library: specially designed workstations are now available that are particularly tailored to the needs of neurodiverse students. The new study booths and chairs are low-noise, shield acoustic and visual stimuli, and at the same time offer pleasant lighting conditions and power outlets - ideal conditions for focused and relaxed work. In addition, the furniture is mobile and flexible and can thus be individually adapted to different learning needs. The university library received special recognition from the German Autism Association, which recommended it as an exemplary learning place for neurodiverse students. This award is a nice acknowledgment of TU Clausthal's continuous commitment to inclusive and barrier-free learning environments.

Family service

• Since September 1, 2025, TU Clausthal has expanded its childcare offerings with a new day care center called “Uni-Dachse” in cooperation with the Studentenwerk OstNiedersachsen. This brings the total number of day care facilities available to students and staff to three, enabling even better compatibility of studies, work, and family life. The new day care center provides full-day care for five children. In addition, the existing large day care centers “Uni-Mäuse” and “Uni-Luchse” continue to offer full-day care for up to eight children under three years of age each. With the expansion of childcare services, TU Clausthal is responding specifically to the increasing demand and strengthening its commitment to a family-friendly study and work environment.

• The last parent-child meeting was held on Thursday, September 11, 2025, in the cafeteria. In a cozy atmosphere, the event offered (expectant) parents the opportunity to network, share experiences, and discuss common topics related to studies, work, and family. A central topic of the meeting was social and student financial counseling with a special focus on support and relief options for students and staff with family responsibilities. Ms. Siemann from the Studentenwerk OstNiedersachsen provided valuable insights into the existing services and answered individual questions from the participants. Furthermore, attendees used the opportunity to discuss current concerns and to exchange practical tips from family life at the university. The next parent-child meeting is already being planned: it will traditionally take place as part of the popular Christmas baking event on December 2, 2025, marking the festive year-end of the parent-child network.

• During the last exam phase, the Families Service offered the childcare format “Study Time with Childcare” for the first time to specifically support student parents. It enables participants to prepare for their exams in a quiet and focused environment while their children receive loving care. Regular care is provided each day from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for children aged 1 to 10 years. Additionally, flexible care is offered if needed, for example, when exams take place in the late afternoon.