Interim survey records discrimination for the first time

Diversity Day 2024: Interim survey records experiences of discrimination for the first time

2024-05-27

©Leuphana/Grafik
Through the interim surveys, the university would like to receive feedback on the current study situation, choice of study programme, study entry and the accompanying framework conditions and offers at Leuphana University.

Discrimination violates people's dignity, can have a lasting effect on satisfaction with studies and life and can have negative consequences, for example on mental health and performance. It has long been known that universities are not discrimination-free spaces.

As part of the interim survey, students at Leuphana are being asked for the first time about discrimination they have experienced themselves, its frequency and the stress they experience. The group of questions on discrimination is based on the study on experiences of discrimination among students at Ruhr-Universität Bochum from 2022 and the nationwide "The Student Survey in Germany: Focus Analyses on Experiences of Discrimination at Universities" by the German Center for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW) from 2021.

The previous student data relating to gender relations, age, childcare and care responsibilities, education and higher education entrance qualification, social background, migration background and nationality are already regularly collected and processed by Leuphana's Quality Development department as part of the interim survey.

Through the interim surveys, the university would like to receive feedback on the current study situation, study choices, study entry and the accompanying framework conditions and offers at Leuphana University. The assessments of current students serve the further development of studies and teaching and are therefore very valuable.

The data collected so far already provides important indications of certain diversity characteristics. Further data on diversity or experiences of discrimination among students at Leuphana have not yet been systematically collected. "We want to change this with a regular survey of students. The system surveys are well suited to this. The upcoming survey of students' experiences of discrimination is an important first step and will help us to identify potential problem areas and take targeted measures," explains Dr. Kathrin van Riesen. The Central Equal Opportunities Officer is part of a working group to set up diversity monitoring, which includes Dr. Ina Cramer and Ina Pidun from the Department of Quality Development | Team Q, Valentina Seidel from the Equal Opportunities Office as well as Prof. Dr. Birte Siem and Prof. Dr. Oliver Genschow.

Dr. Ina Cramer sees many advantages in the orientation towards previously conducted surveys with tried and tested items. The fact that the items are based primarily on the DZHW questionnaire allows the Leuphana data to be compared directly with the nationwide data: added value for the assessment of the survey results.

The interim survey is aimed at all students of the College in their 4th semester and all students of the Graduate School in their 2nd and 4th semesters. This year's survey will start at the end of May or beginning of June 2024. The invitation will be sent by email by Leuphana Teaching Evaluation.