UA Ruhr anti-discrimination program 2026
The University Alliance (UA ) Ruhr Anti-Discrimination Network is an association of organizational units that are primarily concerned with protection against discrimination at their universities. These include the Equal Opportunities, Family and Diversity Office at TU Dortmund University, the Anti-Discrimination Office at Ruhr-Universität Bochum and the Diversity Support Center at the University of Duisburg-Essen. Below you will find all events for 2026 that are open to members and affiliates of the three universities.
Information on the content and registration options can be found directly under the respective event.
Event overview
Workshop for employees of TU Dortmund University, UDE and RUB
Language in its various forms is an important means of communication that is permeated by power structures. Whether consciously or unconsciously, our everyday use of language is permeated by colonial and national socialist language patterns.
This workshop focuses on the power of language and why the effect is more important than a lack of intention.
Contents:
Together we will deal with questions such as:
- What influence do colonialism and racism have on our language?
- What does this do to our own perception?
- Who is talking about whom and why?
- And what does this actually have to do with me?
Employees of TU Dortmund University can register via the service portal and employees of UDE and RUB via schuds@tu-dortmund.de
In cooperation with the Municipal Integration Center of the City of Essen, the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) invites you to a reading with Said Etris Hashemi as part of the UA Ruhr annual anti-discrimination program. The event will focus on his autobiographical work "The Day I Was Supposed to Die", published in 2024. How the terror in Hanau changed my life forever, shedding light on key issues of discrimination, remembrance and social responsibility.
The reading will take place on April 21, 2026 at 18:00 in the library hall of the Duisburg-Essen University Library. The event is sponsored by the Ministry for Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Flight and Integration of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. Registrations can be made via the website of the Diversity Support Center of the UDE
All university members of the UA Ruhr (RUB, TU Dortmund University, UDE) are eligible to participate.
The long shadow of social background
Inequalities in the German higher education and science system
Educational qualifications are key social markers and play a decisive role in determining the life chances of individuals. From kindergarten to university, unequal opportunities according to social origin have been researched and documented in detail - and yet the shadow of social origin extends far into the higher education system.
This lecture provides a systematic overview of empirical research and theoretical explanations of social background and inequality in the German higher education and academic system. Initially, the focus will be on students: differences in access to higher education, study progression and experiences will be examined. The focus will then turn to academic careers, where the few available studies show a clear underrepresentation of people from disadvantaged social classes.
06/05/2026
12-1 pm
1-2 pm - open space for discussion
Afterwards there will be an open space for exchange.
Speaker: Dr. Frerk Blome
Workshop for students at TU Dortmund University, UDE and RUB
In cooperation with ADIRA NRW, the Central Counselling Centre for Protection against Discrimination and Sexualized Violence (SchuDS) is offering a face-to-face workshop for students at TU Dortmund University, Ruhr University Bochum and the University of Duisburg-Essen on the topic of anti-Semitism at universities.
Anti-Semitism is not a phenomenon of the past - we still encounter it today, including at universities. Time and again, students report anti-Semitic incidents in the lecture hall, on campus or in social media. They are then often faced with the question: How do I react correctly? What do I do if I witness an anti-Semitic incident - in a seminar, in a group or online?
Many people find it difficult to act appropriately, partly because antisemitism is not always easy to recognize. It occurs in many different forms. This workshop provides knowledge about the various manifestations of anti-Semitism and concrete strategies for action in everyday university life.
When? 05/21/2026 - 2 pm - 4 pm
Where? TU Dortmund University (exact location will follow after registration)
Registration: https://eveeno.com/301640211
Registration deadline: 05/11/2026
End of reference: ADRIRA NRW
Does freedom need remembrance?
Thought process in Dortmund's city center
As part of the UA Ruhr Annual Program Antidiscrimination 2026, SchuDS cordially invites all members of TU Dortmund University, Ruhr University Bochum and the University of Duisburg-Essen to a stumbling stone walk in Dortmund.
When? 26.05.2026 - 14:00-16:30
Where? Dortmund city center (exact location will follow after registration)
Registration? https://eveeno.com/521785159
Registration deadline 22.05.2026
During a walk through Dortmund's city center, we invite you to think and talk: at the "Stolpersteine", which commemorate people from Dortmund who were deported during National Socialism, at the traces of memory of the destruction of Dortmund in the air raids of the Second World War in the city church of St. Reinoldi and the "empty spaces" of the destroyed synagogues in the city center; and finally at the Steinwache memorial and at the memorial for the NSU victims. Does freedom need remembrance? Which memories? Of whom? Of what? And why? We will also talk about how commemorative signs are designed in public spaces. Do they need an artistic form? And further: On whose initiative are they erected?
The walk will be led by Prof. Dr. Barbara Platzer.
Workshops are currently being planned. More information will follow soon.
Code of Conduct of the Action Days
As in all areas of society, harassment, discrimination and abuse of power also occur at universities. During the UA Ruhr Action Days against Anti-Semitism and Racism, participants with different professional and personal backgrounds, experiences and views will come together. This will result in a varied program with diverse perspectives. In order to create a place with as little discrimination as possible for all participants, the following Code of Conduct is intended to help ensure respectful interaction during the Action Days.
By participating in the Action Days, you agree to comply with this Code of Conduct:
- We expect participants to show consideration and respect in their speech and actions.
- We hope that participants will make an effort to engage in constructive dialog on controversial issues.
- Discriminatory behavior based on gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, economic status, employment status, disability, illness, neurodiversity, physical appearance, origin, nationality, ethnicity, skin color, age, religion or other identity categories will not be tolerated.
- Any (non-)verbal, physical or visual harassment will not be accepted. This includes, but is not limited to: intimidation, persecution or stalking, harassment, photographing or recording people, persistent disruption of lectures, workshops or other events, unsolicited physical contact and any form of sexualized violence.
- The photo policy is adhered to: No photos or other recordings (audio, video etc.) will be taken during events.
- Participants who are asked to stop harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.
- We expect participants to be aware of their surroundings and other participants.
If participants observe harassment, discrimination, abuse of power or other behaviour that violates this Code of Conduct or are themselves affected, they can contact the awareness team or the organizational team in confidence.
Consequences of unacceptable behavior
The organization team reserves the right to take appropriate measures in the event of unacceptable behaviour by participants. These may also lead to exclusion from an event.