Newsletter March 2026
News from the TU Dortmund University
Dr. Ute Zimmermann handed over the baton as Head of the Equal Opportunities, Family and Diversity Unit to Nadine Finke-Micheel on 01.01.2026. An introduction in the form of a short interview can be found below under the "Short interviews" tab.
The new "Diversity" tab on the TU Dortmund University homepage now brings together information, contacts and networks on the topic.
Science, research and teaching thrive on the diversity of perspectives, ideas and questions. Diversity is therefore at the heart of our university. With the new "Diversity" tab on the main page, TU Dortmund University is focusing even more strongly on this central topic and making stakeholders more visible.
The content was compiled by the Equal Opportunities, Family and Diversity Office and provides a comprehensive overview of information, offers and committed people who are committed to respectful, equal opportunities and inclusive campus life.
In the diversity portal, you can find out more about the wide range of activities designed to sustainably strengthen and protect diversity on campus.
The HoKiDo parents' café is opening its doors again!
From 3 to 4 p.m. on selected dates in the KuKi room, there is an opportunity for a relaxed chat over coffee and cake. Children are welcome - parents are responsible for supervision.
Dates:
- Wed., 01.04. (no joke)
- Tue, 12.05.
- Thu, 18.06.
The short-term childcare (KuKi) at HoKiDo has extended its childcare hours! From now on, a total of up to 8 children aged 10 months to 4 years can be looked after in the KuKi for up to 4 hours a day.
The offer can be used by all TU members and guests of the TU.
Childcare hours from Monday to Friday (deviations possible by arrangement):
- 08:00 to 12:00
- 08:30 to 12:30
- 09:00 to 13:00
- 10:00 to 14:00
- 12:00 to 16:00
The Family Service visited the KuKi and captured some impressions. The video is published on our Instagram channel.
Caring for relatives often comes very unprepared. Organizing the care situation is a challenge. Combining work or studies, family and care is a balancing act for many carers. Care guide Ulrike Grate offers helpful information and tips.
Ulrike Grates, the TU Dortmund University's caregiver since 2021, invites all university members who are facing the challenges of caring for relatives or who will take on this task in the future to a joint exchange via Zoom.
Topics include:
- Help and support options
- Sharing experiences and staying in dialog
- Finding new individual and creative solutions through joint exchange
When?
Tuesday, 24.03.2026, 10:00 a.m.
Where?
Prior registration is not necessary.
If you have any questions, please contact Adina Korte
On April 23, 2026, the nationwide Girls*Day and Boys*Day events will take place, in which TU Dortmund University will also participate with a diverse program. Under the motto "Discover TU Dortmund University", girls and boys will have the opportunity to get to know our university in an exciting way.
The departments and institutions with a STEM focus offer special activities for schoolgirls aged 10 to 16. At the same time, pupils in the same age group can explore areas with a focus on social and cultural sciences. In separate groups, the participants gain insights into courses of study and training professions in which the other gender has so far predominated.
The program includes a variety of activities - including information events, experiments and hands-on workshops. For example, schoolgirls can learn more about artificial intelligence or try out their manual skills in the workshop. Boys have the opportunity to take a closer look at pop music or rehabilitation science.
We cordially invite your child or children to spend the day at TU Dortmund University.
You can register via the Girls*Day or Boys*Day website.
The application forms for exemption from school lessons for this day can be found in the service area of the official websites.
News from Dortmund and the surrounding area
The podcast "5-1-7: 180 seconds of information for families" is an offer from the prevention department of the Dortmund Youth Welfare Office. This format presents relevant topics for parents.
For example, it talks about...
- what happens during a welcome visit after the birth of the child,
- what the responsibilities of a freelance midwife are,
- how the daycare portal is structured,
... and much more.
In the DASA Arbeitswelt exhibition in Dortmund, there is not only exciting content for adults to discover, but also for children.
In addition to the children's construction site (outdoor playground), various workshops can be visited, such as the sewing workshop (for children aged 12 and over). Children are playfully guided through the exhibition by means of a search game/quiz (e.g. with the dragon Roxi in the flame hunt).
23.04. is World Book Day, which is why "fun, games and excitement" is on the program in all libraries in Dortmund in the week surrounding this day. There will be performances by theater groups and musicians who invite you to join in and dance.
Every third Sunday of the month from 10:00-13:00, a one-parent meeting takes place in the café of the Mütterzentrum Dortmund, where single parents can network with each other. There is free childcare for younger children and a craft activity for older children.
LEBEDO (Psychosoziale Beratungsstelle für LSBTIQ* - Vielfalt Leben in Dortmund) regularly offers a rainbow family meeting on Sundays from 2:00 to 5:00 pm in the multi-generational house in the Mütterzentrum Dortmund. All families who define themselves as rainbow families and have children of baby, toddler and primary school age as well as couples who wish to have children are invited.
New legislation
Interesting projects, offers and surveys
As part of a representative survey conducted by the Körber Foundation in 2025, a total of 1,006 parents of children aged between 12 and 18 in Germany were asked about parental stress. The reasons for stress as well as support structures for parents and their children were examined. The results show that many parents are under pressure in their everyday lives. The biggest stress factors are the global security situation, too little time for themselves and the couple relationship. Financial worries and children's media use also play a role. Many parents actively accompany and support their children, but would like more support from schools and the education system.
The "InterCare" research project deals with the compatibility of (further) education and care responsibilities. To this end, carers between the ages of 18 and 30 are asked about their experiences, as are care recipients who are at least 20 years older than the person providing support.
Good to know
There is a relative ban on examinations during maternity protection periods. However, this can be waived voluntarily if it is expressly declared to the lecturers or examiners that examinations or courses can be taken. As long as there is no risk to the pregnant person or the child, examinations can also be taken during maternity leave.
Students with child(ren) receive preferential allocation of places on courses with restricted admission.
The midwife hotline provides expectant parents from Dortmund with information about midwife services and support in finding a midwife.
Telephone: +49 (0) 231 50 - 10188
Availability: Tuesdays 15:00-17:00 and Fridays from 10:00-12:00
Short interviews
Congratulations on your new position as Head of the Equal Opportunities, Family and Diversity Unit. Can you briefly introduce yourself and your professional career to our readers?
Thank you very much! I am very much looking forward to the new tasks that come with the position.
While I was still studying at RUB (Educational Science and Social Psychology), I came to TU Dortmund University in 2011 through a project grant to start the MinTU - Mädchen in die TU Dortmund together with a colleague. After completing my Master's degree, I then had the opportunity to shift the focus from the career choices of schoolgirls to career development for female students in the "female.2.enterprises" project and postdocs in the Career Forum for Postdocs of the University Alliance Ruhr.
I remained true to the topic of diversity-sensitive career development until I moved to the position of Head of Staff Unit and was also involved in advising, qualifying and networking prospective doctoral candidates and doctoral students at the Graduate Center for several years.
In the last 10 years, I have had the opportunity to work in all thematic areas of the staff unit; this included, for example, organizing large family conferences, accompanying the 1st re-audit process for the "Shaping Diversity" certificate of the Stifterverband or accompanying the action plan "A University for All", but also very practically the cooperative offer of workshops on diversity in teaching or gender-equitable language. In 2021, I was then able to take over the deputy management of the staff unit and thus work even more strategically as well as nationally networked in our diverse subject areas.
Which Family Service topics and offers are currently particularly close to your heart?
It is important to me that students and employees at TU Dortmund University with caring responsibilities know that we will provide them with the best possible support at all times and that they do not feel alone with planning uncertainties, perhaps also worries or work-life balance conflicts. Public relations work for the advice and support services on campus is therefore key. Even if we in Family Services cannot help directly in every matter, we always try to provide information and other advice options and create spaces for exchange (e.g. with the care meeting for students). We also want to work more intensively on expanding such peer formats in the future.
The topic of caring for relatives is also close to my heart, as it is becoming an increasingly important issue for employees and students at TU Dortmund University due to demographic change. We want to position ourselves well in the Family Service at an early stage.
You also have your own experience in balancing family and career. What recommendations can you pass on to our readers?
To quote a beautiful calendar saying (I think by John Lennon): "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." From my own experience, I know that you can make the best plans for balancing work and family life and then something usually comes up. Be it flu waves, sudden daycare closures or chronic illnesses. Nevertheless, it is important to make these plans and then learn to adapt them flexibly if things turn out differently. This is exactly where we would like to support you with our family service!
Fun Facts
Babies can already perceive sounds and music in the womb. From around the 23rd week of pregnancy, they react to sounds, and towards the end of pregnancy they even react specifically to music. Studies also show that newborns recognize familiar melodies. Many babies react positively when they hear a sound again that they heard before birth.
