Guidelines of the University
Place of tolerance
Our university is a place of tolerance and peaceful coexistence. We are committed to treating each other with respect, sincerity and trust, regardless of position, origin, gender, religion or ideology, disability, age, language or sexual orientation and other forms of diversity.
As a university of potentials, we are committed to ensuring that all university members can contribute and develop their skills and talents.
Right to freedom of science and the arts
Together with the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, we ensure that the members and affiliates of the university, in the fulfillment of their tasks, can exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of science and the arts. We guarantee the freedom to disseminate and exchange scientific opinions. The freedom of research includes, in particular, the posing of questions, methodology and evaluation of the research result and its dissemination. The freedom of teaching includes, in particular, the conduct and organization of courses and the right to express scientific doctrinal opinions.
Constructive discourse
Every scientific discourse is fact-oriented and constructive. In this context, it is indispensable to critically question one's own position and to endure opposing points of view.
Learning and practicing this is a central goal in the education of students and young scientists. It is the responsibility of all members and staff of the University of Duisburg-Essen to practice this.
The University is guided in its actions by the following guidelines:
1. As one of the major German universities, the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) faces up to its social responsibility and develops its contribution to a sustainable, peaceful and democratic world. It is committed to peaceful goals and fulfills its special responsibility for sustainable development.
2. In research, teaching and university management, we are committed to national and international standards in order to fulfill our research and educational mission, to successfully shape the structural change of the region and the increasing digitalization of the world of life and work.
3. We see our university as a community to which all members and disciplines contribute. This includes interdisciplinary networking as well as an appreciative, broad participation of all scientists, employees and students in shaping the future of the UDE.
4. The research profile is continuously being developed. The disciplinary and interdisciplinary research foci of the faculties and the central scientific institutions as well as the university-wide, cross-faculty profile foci contribute to this.
5. The unity of research and teaching is constitutive for our university. In all subjects and at all levels of study, we strive for the best possible study and working conditions to enable excellent science- and research-based academic teaching and learning.
6. To this end, we are breaking new ground in the design of undergraduate, consecutive and continuing education programs, e.g. in the area of e-learning/blended learning, and are oriented toward diverse individual and societal needs in the context of lifelong learning.
7. Education of teachers is an important profile feature of our university in research and teaching. In designing teacher training programs, we therefore focus our attention on quality standards based on research and take into account current developments in school policy.
8. We regard the heterogeneity of university members as an opportunity and promote productive diversity through diversity management measures. Diversity is understood as a contribution to both educational equity and excellence. Gender equity is an integral part of this.
9. In university management, we ensure that there is an appropriate balance between strategic profiling for which central responsibility is assumed and decentralized profiling and self-control. The instruments of target and performance agreements, budgeting, controlling and personnel development serve continuous quality assurance and development.
10. The UDE's self-image includes close networking with regional, national and international actors from science and society. Within the framework of the University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr) with the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) and the Technische Universität Dortmund (TU Dortmund), we are deepening coordination in profile building and setting priorities in research and teaching in order to strengthen national and international competitiveness and visibility.