Paderborn University regards the realisation of equal opportunities for women and men as an important goal. Equality is firmly anchored as a cross-sectional task both at the central strategic level of Paderborn University and at the decentralised level of the faculties.

Paderborn University has already been repeatedly recognised for its gender equality strategies:

In 2005, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2018 and 2021, it was certified as an audit family-friendly university; in 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018 and 2021, it received the Total E-Quality award. In addition, it was awarded the Gender Prize of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia for the best gender equality concept in 2009 and successfully participated in the female professors programme of the federal and state governments (2008, 2013, 2018). In addition, Paderborn University has a high proportion of female professors compared to the rest of Germany and the state (35.1 per ^cent1), which has put it in the top position in the state since 2004.

Paderborn University also prepared a statement on the equality standards of the German Research Foundation (DFG) (2009), which was categorised by the DFG as the highest implementation level 4. The interim report (2011) and the final report (2013) on the implementation of the DFG gender equality standards also received the highest rating. This makes it one of only nine universities to receive the highest rating in all three stages of the process.

The Research-Oriented Standards on Gender Equality and Diversity published by the DFG in the spirit of shaping a gender-equitable university culture represent a voluntary commitment by the universities and an instrument with which personnel and structural standards for a sustainable gender equality policy in the scientific and higher education landscape have been defined. The equality concepts submitted by the member institutions were evaluated and supported in their implementation in the years 2009-2013.

The Paderborn University's gender equality concept sets out goals and measures to increase the representation of women at all academic qualification levels. To this end, target agreements were reached between the Presidential Board and the faculties in 2014. In addition, a study on the underrepresentation of women in doctoral programmes at Paderborn University was published in July 2013, in which possible barriers for women on the path to a doctorate at Paderborn University were identified and recommendations for action were formulated for the university. The results of the study show that Paderborn University's support services (such as the mentoring programmes) are already considered to be very good.

From Paderborn University's perspective, interdisciplinary gender research and a contemporary family-friendly university culture are basic prerequisites for achieving the goal of a gender-equitable university. Therefore, in addition to the goal of increasing the proportion of women, measures to improve the compatibility of family and career as well as goals and measures for gender-sensitive teaching and research are anchored within the university's gender equality concept. As an audited family-friendly university, Paderborn University also offers its members a multi-level childcare concept, which includes individual childcare placement through an internal university family service office, free short-term childcare, childcare during school holidays and childcare places for academic staff in the Studierendenwerk daycare centres. Other focal points include improving study conditions for students with children and improving the organisation of working hours for employees through extensive service agreements on flexitime and alternating teleworking.

In addition, Paderborn University offers a counselling service for employees and students who are caring for relatives.

¹ Incl. junior professorships, as at: 2022, source: internal statistics Paderborn University