UNIFY
New: Anti-Semitism contact point for Heidelberg students
News and events
Two female scientists among “Highly Cited Researchers”
Dr. Frauke Mücksch and Prof. Dr. Jessica Hassel from the Faculty of Medicine are on this year's list of Highly Cited Researchers. This international evaluation names researchers whose publications have been cited most frequently worldwide in their respective fields or who have achieved outstanding publication performance across several disciplines.
Family Caregiving Dialogue Day on February 12, 2026 (in German only)
UNIFY invites you to take part in the “Family Caregiving Dialogue Day” on February 12, 2026. The event is aimed at all members of our university who are currently caring for—or have previously cared for—relatives of any age, family members with chronic illnesses, or relatives with disabilities, or who have supported them in other ways.
OLYMPIA MORATA-PROGRAM
The Olympia Morata Fellowship Program is currently open for applications. The submission deadline is December 17, 2025. The program is aimed at outstanding Postdocs (*FLINTA) with an exceptional qualification project in the R2 phase. Further information and the application documents can be found here.
About UNIFY
UNIFY is the central institution at Heidelberg University for issues of family support, diversity and equality. Its goals, tasks, measures and activities correspond to the legal mandate and strategic goals of the Excellence Strategy.
Family
The reconciliation of caring work and a professional career or studies is at the heart of our work. Raising children or caring for relatives should not result in disadvantages in education or working life. In addition to regular childcare, the university also offers emergency childcare. Students are entitled to flexible examination deadlines.
Diversity
Attributed or self-defined identification with one or more diversity dimensions bears enriching potential and competences as well as challenges and vulnerability. In the context of the university, seven dimensions have been identified that are at the centre of the Diversity Concept. Individual, structural and organisational measures are intended to promote equal opportunities for everyone at the university as a place to study and work.
Certifications
Equality, diversity, antidiscrimination and family are accompanied by external certifications at Heidelberg University. On the one hand, charters reaffirm the commitment to the basic values that are also reflected in the university's mission statement. On the other hand, external certifications evaluate the measures and strategies on the topics and thus provide a framework and targets to be achieved within a certain period of time. The associated commitment ensures the achievement of objectives and the quality of the university's equality, diversity and reconciliation work.
Equality
Women are still massively underrepresented in many subjects and especially at a certain career level ("leaky pipeline"). The State Higher Education Act therefore enshrines the promotion of women in science and the establishment of the office of Equal Opportunities Officer at universities.
Antidiscrimination
The university is not free from discrimination. Power imbalances and dependencies make the prevention of discrimination and disadvantages for certain people and the prevention of unequal treatment a central theme of UNIFY's work. This also includes dealing professionally with conflicts and offering a wide range of counselling services in cases of misconduct by university members.