In March 2021, Witten/Herdecke University signed the Diversity Charter and thus joined the effort to live equality and diversity at UW/H as a place of teaching, learning and work. We want to enable the many different personalities and potentials that we unite at the university to develop and realize themselves. Our claim "Here we grow." is based on our principle "Just be you": Growth can only happen if the external conditions allow and fulfill human needs. By "needs" we do not mean basic needs such as food or shelter, but rather those that are only expressed when basic needs are met: security, belonging, esteem and the opportunity for self-actualization (Maslow, 1943).

We are convinced that self-development and the experience of belonging and esteem under the protection of a concept of equality and diversity promote precisely the growth that is essential for a positive educational experience. After a constitutive phase in the years 2020 to 2023, in which initial steps were taken, e.g. with the "Gender-equitable language" guidelines, various events for days of action such as Feminist Fight Day or Diversity Day or the guideline on dealing with name changes for trans* people, we are now ready to initiate further important changes towards a discrimination-sensitive and equal opportunity organization through a broad catalog of measures.

We in the Equality and Diversity team are actively committed to non-discriminatory and respectful interaction at our university. We want to provide all members of the university with a safe and pleasant learning and working environment. In doing so, we work confidentially, with a focus on those affected and with an intersectional perspective. We want to raise awareness of different life realities and strengthen the culture of open discussion and exchange at the university. We are always open to ideas and feedback!