Annual Conference 2023

Programme

From 09:00 Registration

and informal networking over coffee and pastries

 

10:00 - 10:15 Opening/Welcome

Language: German with interpretation German-English

 

Video message by Martin Polaschek, Federal Minister of Education, Science and Research

 

Eva Werner, Vice President, AQ Austria

 

10:15 - 10:30 Keynote: Diversity, equity, inclusion - A Glance at Austrian Higher Education Institutions

Language: German with interpretation German-English

 

Martina Gaisch, HEI researcher, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria

 

10:30 - 11:00 Keynote: Embedding EDI and QA in Higher Education: Concept, Policy and Practice

Language: English

 

Helen Maher, Vice President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, University of Galway

 

11:00 - 12:15 HEIs as places of diversity, equity and inclusion

Language: German with interpretation German-English

  • Martina Gaisch, HEI researcher, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
  • Zoë M. Großbötzl, Graduate student (Master programmes) Gender Studies and Socioeconomics, University of Vienna and Vienna University of Economics and Business
  • Helen Maher, Vice President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, University of Galway
  • Josef Oberneder, Organisational Developer and Consultant, Member of AQ Austria's Board
  • Gerald Rauch, Deputy Head, Gender Equality and Diversity Management, Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research
  • Anna Steiger, Chair of the Task Force Gender and Diversity, Universities Austria / Vice Rector for Human Resources & Gender, TU Wien

Moderation: Eva Werner, Vice President, AQ Austria

 

12:15 - 13:30 Lunch Break

 

13:30 - 15:00 Five forums

Forum 1: "... and it is wrong to believe that we have already arrived anywhere."1 Towards diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education

- Auditorium, ground floor

- Language: German with interpretation German-English 

 

It is clear that HEIs are aware of the importance of equity and diversity management. So why is the question: "How can HEIs become places where diversity, equity and inclusion are lived values?" still relevant? The answer to this question is largely unanimous: Diversity, equity and inclusion require a cultural change that has not yet begun in some places and is not yet complete in others.

 

In this Forum, representatives of HEIs present their experiences with the cultural change based on the following questions:

  • Which strategic and structural measures support the cultural change? Which factors are hindering?
  • How can educational policy instruments contribute to the process and how can they become more effective?
  • How is diversity management implemented as a management task?
  • What is the contribution of quality assurance and quality enhancement in this context?
  • What are examples of successful change processes and how can success be identified?

 

Helen Maher, Vice President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, University of Galway

 

Martina Gaisch, HEI researcher, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria

 

Julia Kreyler-Valsky, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Inclusion Indicator Research & Advisory GmbH

 

Moderation: Barbara Birke, AQ Austria

Forum 2: Acting and communicating in a diversity-competent way. Examples from practice

- Business Stage 1.1, 1st floor

- Language: German (no interpretation)

 

When it comes to transforming higher education institutions to spaces where diversity, equity and inclusion are lived values, university staff play a decisive role. They are challenged to develop an awareness for D-E-I and the ability to act and communicate adequately in situations characterised by diversity.

 

In this forum, university representatives discuss how universities can support and strengthen the diversity competences of their employees and students. Practical examples will be used to show how diversity-competent actions and communication can be promoted.

 

The focus is on the following questions:

  • What are diversity competencies and which are specifically relevant for the context of higher education?
  • How can diversity competences in a learning organisation be developed and promoted?
  • How do diversity competencies contribute to the further development of higher education institutions as places of diversity, equity and inclusion as a whole?

Nicole Auferkorte-Michaelis, Managing Director, Centre for Higher Education Quality Development, University Duisburg-Essen

 

Britt Dahmen, Head of the Gender & Diversity Management Department, University of Cologne

 

Kirstin Mertlitsch, Head of the University Centre for Women* and Gender Studies, University of Klagenfurt

 

Elisabeth Millonig, Diversity Audit Coordinator, University Centre for Women* and Gender Studies, University of Klagenfurt

 

Moderation: Dietlinde Kastelliz, AQ Austria

Forum 3: Quality through Diversity

- Sky Stage, 19th floor

- Language: English

 

D-E-I related topics often play a subordinate role in quality assurance and quality enhancement. This is contrary to the importance and reality of diversity, equity and inclusion in the higher education system and leads to the fact that quality assurance is not understood as a tool for the promotion and further development of D-E-I measures, in neither the universities nor the quality assurance agencies. As a result, however, the potential of quality assurance and quality enhancement is underestimated and remains neglected.

 

In this forum, we want to discuss our scope for action and the possible contributions of internal and external quality assurance in order to develop inclusive spaces for research, teaching and learning for all.

 

In a joint exchange, we will address the following guiding questions:

  • What is the scope for action for internal and external quality assurance/enhancement?
  • What are the conditions under which internal and external quality assurance/enhancement in the EHEA can support and implement equity and diversity agendas?
  • Is there a need for a national and/or pan-European approach to D-E-I in quality assurance and quality enhancement and what might it look like?
  • What do HEIs expect from internal and external quality assurance and quality enhancement with regard to D-E-I?
  • How can D-E-I be successfully understood at universities and in quality assurance agencies not as a tedious "compulsory task" but as a prerequisite for quality and excellence?
  • How can internal and external quality assurance and quality enhancement ensure that D-E-I agendas do not depend on the commitment or work of individuals, but that they are anchored and developed independently at the institutional level?

Mairéad Boland, Member of AQ Austria's Board / Senior Manager, Quality and Qualifications Ireland

 

Osama Khan, Chair of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Advisory Group, Advance Higher Education / Pro-Vice-Chancellor Education, University of Surrey

 

Moderation: Harriet Leischko, AQ Austria

Forum 4: Designing inclusive studies. From strategy to practice

- Business Stage 1.2, 1st floor

- Language: German (no interpretation)


The student body entering and graduating from European higher education institutions should reflect the diversity of Europe's population - this is one long-standing goal regarding the Social Dimension in Higher Education. Although important progress to achieve this goal has undoubtedly been made, different social groups are still underrepresented in higher education. The question therefore remains as to what steps can be taken to make higher education more accessible, engaging and inclusive, while at the same time harnessing the underlying potential of social diversity to improve the quality of teaching and learning environments.

 

In this forum, we will discuss what further steps need to be taken to make learning and teaching diversity-conscious and inclusive. In doing so, we will cover a range of strategic initiatives and implementation possibilities in practice.

  • Which social groups are still underrepresented in higher education and what progress is already visible?
  • What strategic and structural measures are in place at the national and European level to create an inclusive environment for learning and teaching that takes into account the diversity of students?
  • What do concepts for inclusive teaching and learning look like in practice at higher education institutions? How can such concepts be implemented in an effective way?
  • What changes are necessary in the organisation of studies and the development of curricula?
  • How can studying be made more inclusive, so that personalized solutions for individuals or specific groups are no longer necessary in the future?

Andrea Ellmeier, Head of Equity, Gender Studies and Diversity, University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

 

Coralie Geier, Student representative for inclusive pedagogy and staff member at the Postgraduate Centre, University of Vienna

 

Andreas Jeitler, Chair of the board, uniability

 

Maria Keplinger, Head of the Evidence-Based Higher Education Development Department, BMBWF

 

Ayla Satilmis, programme responsibility e n t e r s c i e n c e, University of Bremen and lecturer in higher education didactics

 

Moderation: Agnes Witzani, AQ Austria

Forum 5: Researchers without barriers. Diversity, equity and inclusion in science and research

- Business Stage 1.3, 1st floor

- Language: German (no interpretation)

 

Promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in Research and Development is a long established strategic goal in the European Higher Education Area. Nevertheless, current studies and analyses show that inequalities, discrimination and (in-)visible barriers still exist. The chances of a successful career in science are still unequally distributed.

 

In the forum "Researchers without Barriers" we will discuss strategies and measures to improve the situation for researchers at universities.

 

The central questions are:

  • How diverse is the research community in the German-speaking area?
  • What barriers prevent diversity, equity and inclusion in research?
  • What are the contributions of educational policy steering instruments to overcome these barriers?
  • What strategies and measures are helpful at the institutional level?
  • How do these measures become effective and what is the contribution of quality assurance and quality development?

Zeynep Demir, Scientific staff member, Bielefeld University

 

Marlene Hock, Operational Programme Management, Equal Opportunities in Research Funding Division, Austrian Science Fund

 

Gerald Rauch, Deputy Head, Department for Equity and Diversity, BMBWF

 

Clemens Striebing, Center for Responsible Research and Innovation, Fraunhofer IAO

 

Moderation: Elisabeth Froschauer-Neuhauser, AQ Austria

15:15 - 15:40 Connecting the Dots: 3 Minute-Pitches

Language: German with interpretation German-English

Forum pitches

 

15:40 Outlook and acknowledgements

Language: German with interpretation German-English

 

Thomas Bieger, President, AQ Austria

 

Until 16:30 Thematic exchange about the results of the annual conference and networking

 over wine and snacks

 

Conference moderation: Georg Winkler, AQ Austria

 

Graphic Recording: Frances Blüml, visuell.gedacht.

 

1 Quote from the event: "From gender policy to diversity-oriented equality policy in the Austrian higher education and research area", June 2023

Registration

In order to register for the conference please contact jahrestagung23@aq.ac.at. Registration ends 12 September 2023. The conference fee is € 150,-. A reduced rate of € 50,- is available for students. English speakers can choose between two thematic forums (the other forums are in German only).