topic Ministry

Women in Education and Research

A forward-looking policy must create the preconditions needed to allow women appropriate representation in all fields and at all levels, particularly in managerial positions. Advantage must be taken of the different view points and ways of thinking of women and men. This is also in the interest of progress in education, research, industry and society as a whole and is one of the BMBF's central tasks.

Gender Mainstreaming

Gender mainstreaming is a strategy for achieving the equality of women and men and stands for a policy of equality as an element of all fields of politics. The concept of "equal opportunities" is to be included as the universal guiding principle in all political decisions, measures and activities. The BMBF has integrated gender mainstreaming as the objective and method in all areas of its work. For example, women and men must be afforded equal treatment in the development of programmes and measures, in the allocation of funding, and in the implementation and evaluation of measures.

Key strategic areas are:

• Expanding the career spectrum of women and gender mainstreaming in vocational education and training
• Women in the Science System
• Women in the Information Society and
• Start-ups by women

The BMBF has set up the Equal Opportunities in Education and Research Division in order to implement equal opportunities for women in education and research. Its task is to implement gender mainstreaming with the help of a budget item of its own under the heading "Strategies for Implementing Equal Opportunities for Women in Education and Research".

The Equal Opportunities in Education and Research Division

• is part of the BMBF's Strategies and Policy Issues Directorate-General,
• has the task of supporting equal opportunities in all fields of the BMBF's work,
• analyses the need for action in education and research,
• supports strategic measures and projects and
• works closely with all the BMBF's specialist directorates-general and divisions and all stakeholders in this area.

Excellence, quality and equal opportunities are natural elements of a forward-looking education and research policy.

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  topic Ministry

  Women in the Science System

  The share of female scientists in leading positions in universities is still lower than the share of female staff as a whole. In order to rectify this situation the Federal Ministry of Education and Research is supporting targeted projects within the framework of its Gender Mainstreaming Strategy in Science. New is an Internet-based career network with tips to help women in their professional lives.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/494.php)
   
  
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  topic Ministry

  Start-ups by women

  The Federal Government has set itself the target of significantly increasing the share of women starting up companies. The BMBF's project work is intended in particular to support and promote women on their way to self-employment.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/2578.php)
   
  
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  topic Ministry

  Gender Mainstreaming

  Gender mainstreaming is based on the recognition that there is no such thing as a gender-neutral policy. In other words, politics and government always have specific effects on women and men.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/532.php)