Prof. Dr. Katharina Dahm, Equal Opportunities Representative at Mainz University of Applied Sciences, is one of two new spokespersons for the Rhineland-Palatinate State Conference of Women in Higher Education* (Landeskonferenz der HochschulFrauen*, LaKoF*). As such, Prof. Dr. Dahm is now also advocating for equality at universities of applied sciences at the state level.
“I very much welcome Prof. Dr. Dahm’s commitment as spokesperson for the State Conference of Women in Higher Education and am very pleased that we as a university are also able to engage in promoting equality at the state level,” stated Prof. Dr. Susanne Weissman, President of Mainz University of Applied Sciences and Chairwoman of the Rhineland-Palatinate State University Presidents’ Conference (LHPK).
Prof. Dr. Katharina Dahm was unanimously elected as one of two new spokespersons at the general meeting of the State Conference of Women in Higher Education at Trier University of Applied Sciences in April. The professor of employment law will represent the members of LaKoF* from the universities of applied sciences for the next three years. “Solving pressing social problems, such as the digital transformation and the consequences of climate change, requires the participation of everyone and a diversity of perspectives – and especially at universities as sustainable and future-orientated educational institutions. I am therefore very pleased to be able to work together with the Ministry and the LHPK to promote equality at universities of applied sciences,” said Prof Dr Katharina Dahm. In addition, Dr. Tanja Gnosa, Central Equal Opportunities Representative at the University of Koblenz, was elected spokesperson for the university LaKoF* members.
The State Conference of Women in Higher Education was founded in 1990 and is a voluntary association of equal opportunities representatives and other equal opportunities stakeholders at universities and universities of applied sciences in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. It is an ambitious driving force for equality in research and teaching as well as self-governance and studies. It enables and promotes cooperation, peer counselling and the implementation of common equality policy interests of women in higher education.
Prof. Dr. Dahm was elected to the position of Central Equal Opportunities Representative at Mainz University of Applied Sciences in September 2022. Since then, Mainz University of Applied Sciences has joined the association Familie in der der Hochschule (Family at the University) and the alliance emeinsam gegen Sexismus (Working together against sexism) as the foundation for gender equality work, and has also signed the Diversity Charter. With her three-person team, funded by the female professors' program, she focused on the topic of reconciling having to provide care for family members with a career to make the university more family-friendly. In addition, financial support options for students with children were expanded, in addition to other measures. The fem.prom doctoral scholarship was established to encourage more women in research. In the area of anti-discrimination, it is now possible for students to change their marital status and name for their studies without bureaucracy at Mainz University of Applied Sciences. Preparations are currently underway for participation in the Female Professors Program 2030, a reading corner is being installed in the library (gleich_lesen!), and a practical guide to discrimination-sensitive language is being developed.
Dr. Katharina Dahm has been Professor of Professor for Labor Law including Social Security Issues and Private Business Law at the School of Business of Mainz University of Applied Sciences since 2018. She is also the Director of the LL.M. in Business Law–Labor Law and HR Management degree program and is a member of the university’s Senate Committee for Equal Opportunities.
