These are our core fields of activity:
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion supports and advises the Rectorate and all department and office heads in issues relating to equal opportunities and the advancement of women. It particularly deals with the elimination of structural barriers for women researchers at the Medical University of Vienna and implements measures to increase the share of women at all qualification levels, especially in executive positions (including medical directors).
Specific programmes and measures for the advancement of women are devised to encourage them to pursue a scientific career and support them in this career path. Diversity, Equality and Inclusion thus designs, coordinates and supports all organisational units in developing and implementing specific measures and programmes for women which seek to establish a balanced share of women and men at all levels. It also strives to eliminate the existing underrepresentation of and discrimination against women and to strengthen the professional standing of women in research.
The gender equality report (“Gleichstellungsbericht”) is part of the gender monitoring efforts of the Office forDiversity, Equality and Inclusion and offers a comprehensive overview of current gender ratios at the Medical University of Vienna. Besides gender, it also comprises other diversity categories such as age and nationality of employees. Each year, the report includes around 100 figures from the areas ‘leadership, boards and panels’, ‘scientific staff’, ‘indices’, ‘scientists and parenthood’, ‘nationality’, ‘scientific achievements’ and ‘students’, summarized in tables and graphs.
You can download the recent Gender Equality Report (German language) here.
The Medical University of Vienna has committed itself to the promotion of diversity, thus contributing to equal opportunities among staff and students. Diversity has been incorporated into the performance agreements as well as into the statutes and the development plan of the university. Furthermore, an agreement on non-discrimination, fair conduct and the avoidance and handling of internal bullying („Betriebsvereinbarung betreffend Antidiskriminierung, partnerschaftliches Verhalten sowie die Vermeidung und Bewältigung von innerbetrieblichem Mobbing“) was created and a steering group "Diversity Management" established. The steering group is dedicated to formulating goals and working towards their achievement.
The “Regenbogengruppe” (in English: “Rainbow Group”) is an open group for a-/bi-/hetero-/homosexual, inter, trans and queer staff, students and supporters.
The department of Diversity, Equality & Inclusion offers information, counseling and support regarding the compatibility of work/studies and family obligations.
Balancing professional and family obligations can be challenging - for parents as well as for those who provide care for relatives.
In one or more confidential couseling sessions, we can sort out questions regarding the organisation of everyday life, individual career options or financial issues. Together we find individual solutions that work out for your specific situation.
It is a central goal of the Medical University of Vienna to create an inclusive and accesible work environment. In order to achieve this aim, the university provides information, counseling and support and takes measures to raise awareness.
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion supports the Vice Rector for Research and the heads of the organisational units and research clusters in procuring projects in the field of women's research and gender studies.
Another task is to consolidate, coordinate and connect existing research activities in the field of women's studies, gender studies and Gender Medicine at the Medical University of Vienna.
In the course of (life-long) university education, MedUni Vienna aims at conveying competencies in the field of gender medicine to its students and to impart a gender-sensitive approach to research, teaching and patient care.
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion organises two lecture series on topics from the field of gender medicine per semester and a lecture series on diversity and medicine each winter semester. These courses can be completed as free elective subjects. Information and details regarding the gender and diversity lectures can be found here: www.meduniwien.ac.at/gendering
The Medical University of Vienna also seeks to incorporate gender medicine into the mandatory curriculum. For this purpose, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion develops teaching approaches from gender mainstreaming, gender medicine and diversity management together with lecturers at MedUni Vienna.
Women and gender studies:
Some illnesses and disorders may affect women only or more often or more gravely, such as osteoporosis, arthritis or autoimmune diseases. Other times, women may present with different symptoms than men, for instance when it comes to cardiovascular diseases.
In order to research this more closely, different levels have to be examined (biomedical basic research, clinical and sociological research). The insights gained must then be integrated in order to develop a female health model to sustain, improve or restore women’s health over the course of the entire life cycle.
Research approaches:
“Sex-based biology” researches physiological, sex-based differences, ranging from the sub-cellular to the bodily level, as well as sex-specific reactions to pharmaceuticals in the framework of biomedical basic research.
“Gender-based medicine” deals with biological differences in women and men as well as variations in the manifestation, course and treatment of illnesses depending on the patient’s gender.
“Women’s health” focuses specifically on women patients as a category of their own, as opposed to viewing them in opposition to the male sex. Women’s health acknowledges the diversity of health requirements in the course of the entire life cycle, which depend on social class, culture, etc.
Gender Mainstreaming:
“Gender mainstreaming aims at integrating a gender-sensitive perspective into all activities and measures and examining all plans and measures with regard to their gender-specific effects. This is based on the assumption that our society’s gender roles reflect a system of inequality, the origins of which have been socially and culturally created.
Universities and research are also organised according to different roles and positions of women and men, at the same time reproducing them. Gender mainstreaming also means to design measures in a way that creates a level playing field for women and men. It is not, however, suited to replace specific measures for the advancement of women. Simultaneity, i.e. a double-pronged approach, is a prerequisite for success.” (Report by the working group on gender mainstreaming – completely independent legal status of the former Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture, quote translated from German)
Sex and gender
Sex: biological fact
Gender: socio-cultural construction