Equal OpportunitiesFraunhofer IAO Contact
Equal Opportunities
The Fraunhofer IAO exercises consistent employee-orientation, which is the foundation for their outstanding achievements and secures them a long-term competitive position. We are convinced that a high quality service offer requires a balanced team of women and men, young and experienced employees and teams made up of different specialised fields and cultures. In their quest for equality and teamwork, the Fraunhofer IAO plans to increase the percentage of women in research and management, in order to benefit from female conduct and perspectives and profit from balanced mixed gender co-operations. Before equal opportunities can be achieved, the general structure and surrounding conditions must be adapted to suit the different career plans and interests of women and men. In order realise equal opportunities it is necessary to be open minded to different opinions and to implement the use of various personnel policies. The Fraunhofer society and the individual institutes are responsible for this together. The Fraunhofer society has had a central equal opportunities officer since 2006, who attends to the various topics surrounding workplace equality between men and women on a strategic level; on an operational level she works together with the commissioners for equal opportunities located at each individual institute. The IAT at the University of Stuttgart, the co-operate partner for the Fraunhofer IAO, there are additional opportunities for the advancement of women in business. The University of Stuttgart makes specific projects possible for the advancement of female recruits and managers.
Projects at the Fraunhofer IAO and IAT University of StuttgartThe first step towards awareness within an organization is a solid foundation stone, for example intern communication regarding possible changes such as information about goals, paths and the new developments towards equality. Throughout the last few years the number of projects aimed to promote academic recruitment has increased. The Fraunhofer IAO offers special programs for girls to encourage the connection between scientific aptitude and career at an early stage. Apart from internships specifically directed at girls to enhance contact with technology, the Fraunhofer IAO together with the other Stuttgarter Fraunhofer Institutes also organises an annual Girl’s Day. Approximately 100 girls aged between ten and 16 are given the opportunity to take an insight into the range of activities currently available in the field of research. In addition to this, within the context of the Boy’s Day, the Fraunhofer IAO and KIND e.V. attempt to change the antiquated views of young boys on role perception with regard to social careers. This project introduces boys aged 13 and older to educational careers for the first time. The human resource development approach at the Fraunhofer society enables their Fraunhofer IAO employees to take part in numerous training and further education programs and the opportunity to complete dissertation and post doctorates.There are management seminars, coaching and mentoring programs available which are specifically aimed at the female management sector. The Fraunhofer IAO also plans to lay the foundation for an internal networking system for the benefit of young female scientists. Networks serve to simplify communication and collaboration, and they allow the exchange of knowledge beyond the realms of the institute. In order to give our employees the ability to juggle family and career, the Fraunhofer Institute offers flexible working hours and leave of absence according to the individual requirements of parents - for both women and men. This includes reliable child care facilities within the vicinity of the Institute, which opens up the doors to working life again, as it enables the parents to return to previous employment quickly. Knowledge exchange with independent external experts is often regarded by women in management as valuable support. For this reason, on an international level, the Fraunhofer society is a member of the EWDM (European Women’s Development Management International Network). The EWDM is a network which offers international discussions on current management queries independently of branches or hierarchy. The Fraunhofer IAO and IAT at the University of Stuttgart have been honoured with the achievement of Total E-Quality in 2002 (only IAO), 2005 and 2008. This award is presented to organizations and Institutions with equal opportunity oriented personnel and organization policies, whereby employee aptitude, competence and potential is recognised and promoted equally for both genders.
Total E-Quality award
The registered initiative “Total E-Quality Deutschland e. V.” has commended the Fraunhofer IAO and the Institute for Industrial science and technology IAT at the university of Stuttgart for their equal opportunity personnel management. This is the third time both institutes have received the coveted title »Total E-Quality«. The award recipient is chosen by an independent jury of representatives from the fields of science and industry. The jury awarded the institute the honour of “outstanding achievement” in the fields personnel and career development, organization and research, training and studies. The jury said later, “The significance of equal opportunities within the organization was distinctly obvious as well as the fact that it is successfully converted into every day practice in the institute.” In addition to this, the experts praised the fact that both institutes had successfully expanded their gender specific measures and concepts, subsequently increasing gender competence throughout the organization since their last application in 2005. The award „Total E-Quality“ is given for two years at a time, so it is continual further development and commitment in equal opportunity management which plays an important role in becoming recommended once more. Total E-Quality Deutschland e.V.’s main aim is to establish long-term equal opportunities for women and men in commerce and industry, science, politics and management and so bring about a change of paradigm in human resource politics. The organization is sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education for families, pensioners, women and youth. |
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