Equal opportunities and diversity office

Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) is committed to promoting equal opportunities and diversity. Staff and students should receive recognition and equal treatment regardless of gender, age, origin, religion or ideology, disability or sexual orientation. 

The Equal Opportunities & Diversity Office promotes equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion at ZHdK through gender equality measures, awareness-raising campaigns and projects.
Our mission is to implement equal opportunities at ZHdK and to anchor them permanently in the University’s organizational structures. We therefore support diversity-oriented and inclusive cooperation in research, teaching, programmes and administration. In doing so, we recognize the diverse potential of staff and students.

Contacts

Dr. Patricia Felber Rufer
Head of Equal Opportunities & Diversity
+41 43 446 20 07

Larissa Holaschke
Deputy Head of Equal Opportunities & Diversity
+41 43 446 32 92

Irène Hediger
Project lead and advice Equal Opportunities & Diversity
+41 43 446 61 10

Sulamith Tamborriello
Student assistant Equal Opportunities & Diversity

Julia Fiechter
Student assistant Equal Opportunities & Diversity projects

Internal Trusted Contacts

    Duties and Tasks

    • The Equal Opportunities & Diversity Office is open to all staff and students. We offer advice, personal consultations and information on all questions and concerns pertaining to equal opportunities, equality, diversity, reconciling family life and studies/work, menopause, barrier-free education, discrimination, sexual harassment and bullying. We are also happy to arrange meetings with external experts from our network.

    • Forming Diversity

      Forming Diversity is a university-wide platform that aims to raise awareness, as well as make visible, strengthen and create networks and activities in the field of gender, queer matters, postcolonialism and diversity at ZHdK. The platform presents practical and theoretical explorations being pursued by staff and students in teaching and research. It shows how these issues are discussed, makes knowledge accessible, promotes the corresponding discourses and brings together experts. 

      Diversity Lunch Talk

      The Equal Opportunities & Diversity Office regularly hosts Diversity Lunch Talks.  Events offer staff and students an opportunity to exchange ideas and views on diversity, gender and equal opportunity issues with experts and interested members of the wider public. Talks usually take place twice a semester over lunch.

      Diversity Cinema

      Diversity Cinema is a series of events that presents short films over lunch and offers audiences an opportunity to meet filmmakers. Diversity Cinema addresses different areas of diversity through key topics. Diversity Cinema is a cooperation between the Equal Opportunities & Diversity Office and ZHdK Film School.

      Participation in Search Committees

      The Equal Opportunities & Diversity Office participates in all search committees. It is represented by an equal opportunity delegate (either a member of the Equal Opportunities & Diversity Office or members of the Equal Opportunity Committee who have received special training to perform their duties on search committees). The Office runs workshops on equal opportunities in recruitment processes.

      Futures Day

      The National Futures Day promotes gender equality in career choices (and life planning) at an early stage. The event offers girls and boys an opportunity to change sides and explore future careers beyond rigid gender concepts.
      Whether as a game designer or art educator, theatre or film maker, musician or dancer, visual artist or cultural journalist: the future holds in store highly diverse working environments. ZHdK participates in this national event and hosts a special programme at Toni-Areal.

    • Women for leadership positions — mentoring wlp

      “mentoring wlp” gives women insights into leadership roles at Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Zurich University of Teacher Education and Zurich University of the Arts. It is aimed at women who want to take on a leadership role. During the one-year programme, mentees work with two different mentors and attend workshops at St. Gallen Leadership Day.
      → Further Information 

    Thematic Fields

    • The ZHdK Mission Statement declares that the dignity and integrity of all staff and students, as well as their right to equal opportunities, be respected at all times. ZHdK pursues this key goal by striving to be an organization whose culture is based on open communication, social responsibility and participatory management. At ZHdK, discrimination of any kind is not tolerated. This includes, in particular, sexual harassment, sexist behaviour, racism, transgressive behaviour, abuse of power or bullying.

      Should discriminatory behavior occur nevertheless, ZHdK has implemented a process that is designed to support those affected. In addition, ZHdK has appointed trusted contacts whom staff and students may contact confidentially and anonymously.

      ZHdK has six internal trusted contacts whom students and staff who experience discrimination may contact. They may choose which trusted contact they wish to discuss their concerns with.

      Staff and students may also contact the University’s external trusted contact without consulting a ZHdK office. The external trusted contact also offers the highest level of protection and discretion. Four consultations are available free of charge.

    • Non-Discriminatory Language

      ZHdK has implemented non-discriminatory, i.e. inclusive language guidelines. Staff and students may submit an application to change their first name and gender designation. For advice, please contact the Equal Opportunities & Diversity Office, the University Office or your HR advisor. Further information: Fact Sheet and Application Form: Use of First Name and Gender Designation (Form of Address) of Transgender and Intersex People  

      Barrier-Free and All-Gender Toilets

      The Toni-Areal has all-gender toilets on every floor. Facilities are labelled “WCs.” Gender-segregated toilet areas will continue to operate. Facilities also include a barrier-free toilet and a nappy-changing table. These measures have been introduced to ensure that the Toni-Areal meets today’s toilet standards.
      All-Gender Toilets: Locations and Labeling

      LGBTQIA+ Community    

      LGBTQIA+ Community ZHdK is a platform for networking and discussing gender and identity. It seeks to create a safe, inclusive, creative and dynamic community for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. It advocates for various core issues including identity development, campus atmosphere and personal safety. These areas provide the foundation for incorporating LGBTQIA+ concerns into curricula.

    • Reconciling Work/Studies and Family

      The Equal Opportunities & Diversity Office advises staff and students on how to reconcile their studies, work and family life. Sometimes changes in personal circumstances (e.g. illness, nursing or caring for a relative or similar) prove challenging. Counselling can provide a fresh perspective.

      Out-of-Home Childcare

      Out-of-home childcare is crucial to reconciling studies and/or work with family life or living communities. See the Fact Sheet for information about how ZHdK supports parents who need out-of-home childcare until their child starts kindergarten. Support is aimed at staff and students.

      Breastfeeding Facilities and Changing Tables

      Breastfeeding mothers have a legal right to paid breastfeeding time during working hours for the first year of their child’s life. This also applies to pumping breast milk (see Federal Government Information). At ZHdK, the first-aid room (3.K03) is available as a breastfeeding room; the key can be obtained from reception if required. Barrier-free WCs are equipped with changing tables.

      High-Performance Sports and Studies

      ZHdK endeavours to offer top athletes the opportunity to combine their studies with top sports. To be eligible for flexible conditions, students must hold a Swiss Olympic Card. The Equality & Diversity Office offers support with reconciling university studies and top-class sport. 

    • Studying and Working with Physical and Mental Impairment

      • Barrier-Free Campus
        ZHdK strives to offer all visitors, students and staff the most barrier-free environment possible. Various improvements have been made to improve accessibility in the areas of mobility and visibility. Measures are continuously being expanded. Please see here for the most important information for people with visual, mobility or hearing impairments.

      • Barrier-Free Studies
        ZHdK seeks to enable students with a disability to pursue their studies as barrier-free as possible. If you have a hearing, visual, speech or mobility impairment or a chronic illness and need information or support in your everyday student life, please contact the Equal Opportunities & Diversity Office as early as possible after starting your degree programme. Further information: Swissuniabilty

    Special Needs Arrangement

    Students with a physical, mental or psychological impairment can apply to the ZHdK for special needs arrangement. The aim of the special needs arrangement is to enable all students with an impairment (e.g. visual or hearing impairment, dyslexia or attention deficit disorder) to study with equal opportunities. Special needs arrangements can include, for example, extended examination times or deadlines or the use of certain aids. Special needs arrangements relates to the form of the work to be done. The learning and competence objectives are not affected. 
    Persons who register for seeking admission for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme can submit an application in the event of an invitation to the aptitude test. The relevant information with a link to the application will be sent by e-mail during the ongoing admission procedure.

    Committees

    Equal Opportunities Committee

    The ZHdK Equal Opportunities Committee deals with university-wide strategic and operational issues concerning equality & diversity. The committee consists of one representative each from the five departments, services, teaching staff, mid-tier staff, students, HR, the staff council and the dossiers.

    Erfa Equal Opportunities Committee ZFH

    The Erfa Equal Opportunities Committee ZFH comprises the equal opportunity officers of the Zurich universities of applied sciences. The committee deals with a range of topics and launches projects to implement equal opportunities and ensure diversity in all areas and bodies of universities of applied sciences.

    Universities of Applied Sciences Equal Opportunities Expert Group

    Established by Swissuniversities, the Universities of Applies Sciences Equal Opportunities Expert Group deals with equal opportunities and diversity on a national level and serves as a platform for exchange and dialogue between universities of applied sciences. 

    Lake Constance Arts & Sciences Association

    The Lake Constance Arts & Sciences Association of the International Lake Constance University facilitates cross-border cooperation between the diversity officers of 25 higher education institutions in Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. They discuss best practice examples as part of the Gender and Diversity working group, and continuously expand their diversity measures in regular meetings, workshops and lectures.

    Further Documents