The university was first awarded the family-friendly university certificate in 2007. To earn the certificate, the university had to develop specific measures and goals in eight areas of action. These areas include human resource development and academic training, the organization of work, research, and degrees, and services for families. These measures were then reviewed by the auditors. In 2020, the certificate was granted permanently. Since then, renewal has been handled through a streamlined dialogue process.
From Vacation Childcare to a Multigenerational Park: A Wide Range of Services
The University of Bremen’s services for families currently include counseling and childcare. There are daycare spots on campus and nearby, and the university offers emergency childcare and children’s vacation camps. The Dual Career Service provides comprehensive support to newly appointed staff members and their families in all matters that may arise when moving to Bremen. Visiting researchers, newly appointed staff, and their families can also receive support at the Welcome Center.
The Family Care Office is a point of contact for all university members with family responsibilities, including those related to pregnancy, childcare, and caring for relatives. The office offers counseling, information, discussion events, children’s vacation camps, and guided tours of family-friendly locations on campus. A monthly Family Caregiver Support Group, where experts answer questions on the topic, has become a regular feature.
The Family-Friendly Studies working group provides support for students with caregiving responsibilities through initiatives such as children’s festivals and caregiving cafés. Additionally, the Multigenerational Park, a nature-oriented space for relaxation, interaction, and physical activity, was created to support a sense of community on campus.
Over the next three years, the existing services will be expanded. Specifically, this means redesigning the child-friendly spaces on campus to make them more appealing. All-gender restrooms will also be installed in campus buildings. Services for fathers will be created, and efforts will be made to raise awareness of caregiving issues among the university leadership.
Further Information:
https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/familie
https://www.berufundfamilie.de/english-info
Contact:
Miriam Ahrenholz
University of Bremen
Administrative Unit 08: Central Administrative Affairs / Organizational Development
Phone: +49 421 218-60857
Email: miriam.ahrenholzprotect me ?!vw.uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de
