Diversity Day 2026

Leuphana University is taking part in the nationwide ‘Diversity Day’ for the tenth time.The theme of this year’s Diversity Day is the experiences of first-generation academics. The event will also explore ways to support their studies and academic career paths. We warmly invite you to attend the five events on offer.

The Leuphana homepage is once again highlighting National Diversity Day. On May 19, 2026, three articles addressing the topic of “first-generation academics” will be published at www.leuphana.de.

• Memes Highlight Classism
• Promoting Greater Equal Opportunity in Academia
• Between Background and the Lecture Hall

The event takes place in C 14.001, the event language is German.

Are you the first in your family to study at university? Would you like to chat with other students who are in the same situation? We warmly invite you to join us for a supportive exchange of experiences. The event is designed as a workshop, where we will start by working together to decide which key topics we would like to discuss. If you have any suggestions or requests in advance, please feel free to contact us at: studienberatung.college@leuphana.de

Organiser: Study Counselling Service. The event is part of this year’s Diversity Day. The event can be held in German, English or both, as required. No registration is required.

The event takes place in Room C11.308, the event language is German.

The number of BAföG recipients remains low. According to a study by the Max Planck Institute and the Fraunhofer Institute, many students do not claim their BAföG entitlements because they think they are not eligible for BAföG. This leads to financial burdens that can have a negative impact on academic success and equal opportunities.

Targeted information can help overcome misconceptions about BAföG conditions, which is particularly beneficial for students from socially disadvantaged households.

This information event aims to make a small contribution to this and, in addition to technical information, also offers many "incidental" tips from our own experience, many years of consulting practice, and close cooperation with the BAföG office of the Studierendenwerk OstNiedersachsen.

The event takes place in C 40.601, the event language is German.

University is for everyone – but not equally accessible to all. First-generation students often navigate systems shaped by unwritten rules, missing role models, and structural barriers. At the same time, they bring in perspectives with the potential to transform higher education.

As part of the German Diversity Day, the Graduate School of Leuphana University of Lüneburg invite you to the panel discussion “Being a First-Generation Academic at University” Guests from different academic stages and professional contexts will talk about their experiences, challenges along the way, and their competencies. This goes beyond  individual stories: Which structures exclude? What does educational equity require? And how can universities become more inclusive in the future?

Join us, listen, ask questions, be part of the discussion.

The event takes place in C 12.006, the event language is German.

Classism refers to discrimination based on social background or social status and particularly affects people from low-income and working-class backgrounds. Within the education system in particular, classism contributes to the unequal distribution of educational opportunities and restricts pathways to social mobility. First-generation university students are particularly affected by these mechanisms. As the first in their families to go to university, their educational journeys highlight the extent to which classist notions, expectations and assumptions about what is ‘normal’ are structurally embedded within higher education. The talk therefore explores the role that social background plays in the higher education context and what a practice critical of classism might look like.

Francis Seeck holds a research-oriented professorship in social work with a focus on democratic and human rights education at TH Nuremberg. Their research and teaching focuses on classism, democratic education, gender and queer studies, diversity and human rights-based social work. Since 2010 they work as an anti-discrimination and social justice trainer. In 2022, the manifesto against classism titled "Access Denied" was published by Atrium, followed by the books "Overcoming Classism" and "Classism and Social Work" in 2024. More information: www.francisseeck.net

The event takes place in C 40.164, the event language is German.

Studying is great and all, but why does everyone talk in such a weird way that you can't understand anything? Why do I have to work three jobs to afford this? Did everyone sitting with me in that lecture basically have teacher parents with newspaper subscriptions and violin classes?

If you find yourself asking these or similar questions, come to Klasse, a meme workshop!

Over thoe course of one day, we'll explore classism as a form of discrimintation and make memes about it. What actually is class anyway? Where do I stand? And why is class discrimination still a problem in Germany today?

That's what we'll be digging into – along with making "klasse" (=amazing) memes and memes about class (hehe). The workshop is meant to be fun and offer an easy entry point into what can be a pretty tough topic.

Klasse, a meme workshop! will be facilitated by Caren Miesenberger. She is a cultural journalist (including for DLF Kultur, WDR COSMO), initiated the workshop series FEMINIST MEME SCHOOL in 2018, and currently holds a teaching position on memes at HBK Braunschweig.

Please register: anna.ramella@leuphana.de

Please bring your phone.

This workshop is organized by the junior professorship for methods of cultural studies, Prof. Dr. Anna Lisa Ramella.

The perspectives of first-time academics are valuable. We encourage you to share your ideas, experiences, and suggestions. These can spark new initiatives and bring about change. We look forward to your contributions! You can email us (genderdiversity@leuphana.de) or write to us anonymously on CryptoPad.

All events are designed to allow you to express yourself in both German and English. If you need assistance following the event in German, we would be happy to arrange whispered translation for you. Please email us at genderdiversity@leuphana.de by 18 May 2026.

If you encounter barriers on this website or have individual needs related to the Diversity Day 2026 events, please let us know in good time so that we can support you.Please contact us at genderdiversity@leuphana.de.

We strive to make the events held as part of Diversity Day as accessible as possible.

On our page "Support in case of discrimination" you will find information on anti-discrimination work and counselling at Leuphana. Beyond the Equal Opportunities Office, there are various support and assistance services you can reach out to in case of discrimination.

There are many different topics and issues within the scope of diversity-orientated equality and anti-discrimination work. The following page provides an overview of topic-specific counselling services. In addition to the existing structures and contact persons at the university, you will find a selection of regional and supra-regional services categorised by topic.

The information portal on sexualised violence in the university context and beyond is aimed at victims and supporters of victims, people who want to intervene in cases of sexual harassment and anyone else who wants to find out more about the topic.
 

Valentina Seidel, M.A.
Consultant for Equality & Diversity
valentina seidel@leuphana.de

Dr. Beate Friedrich
Consultant for Equality & Diversity
beate.friedrich@leuphana.de