Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
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The HfMT Hamburg is a highly international arts university. Students, faculty, and staff come from over 60 countries and speak a corresponding number of different languages. They experience their daily lives in Hamburg and at the university in different ways, as diversity extends beyond cultural, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds to include individual identities and lifestyles. They identify as women or men within the traditional gender framework or exist beyond binary categories. They live in heterosexual or same-sex relationships or have different skin colors and physical characteristics. Some must live with invisible chronic illnesses or physical or mental health challenges. Our goal is to enable all students, faculty, and staff at the HfMT to participate in university life free from discrimination.
Help and Advice
Do you need assistance? We’re here to help. The University of Music and Drama places great importance on ensuring that staff, students, and guests treat one another with fairness and respect and experience this treatment themselves. The nature of artistic and academic training—with its heavy emphasis on individual and small-group instruction, personal dependence on instructors, high pressure to perform, and the need to give one’s all—requires a particularly sensitive approach to one another. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need help.
Diversity can inspire - HfMT against discrimination
For an arts and sciences university, diversity is not a peripheral issue but an essential characteristic—it reflects the social reality in which universities operate today. It can be both a source of inspiration and a challenge.
Based on the guiding principle “Artistic Excellence with Social Responsibility,” the HfMT derives its mission to continuously and critically reflect on its own structures and processes within the context of a changing, diverse society. For the university, therefore, diversity management means more than simply dealing with differences: it is about opening up access, making existing social barriers more permeable, and establishing a culture in which artistic and academic potential can flourish free from discrimination.
To give this commitment a structural framework, the Diversity Steering Group—appointed by the University Senate—was established in 2018. This working group brings together all stakeholder groups at the HfMT, ranging from the deans of studies to the expanded executive board, the equal opportunity officers and the administration, all the way to the students.
To assess the current state of diversity at the HfMT, the steering group first developed a diversity survey specifically tailored to the unique characteristics of the HfMT as an arts university.
This text is based on surveys conducted among students (2019) and staff (2021).
The survey results were processed in several evaluation workshops and analyzed in specialized working groups. In addition to the graphical presentation of the quantitative results, the open-ended responses were categorized according to qualitative content analysis, and five overarching cluster themes were subsequently identified as areas for action:
Respect, Transparency, Access, Work-Life Balance, and Reflection. Based on the survey results, the Diversity Management Concept (DMK) , which encompasses ten aspects of the university’s self-image and more than 100 measures. One aspect is the development of an anti-discrimination strategy. The introduction of the Diversity Management Concept was more than just the introduction of a strategic document. It was an expression of an institutional learning process that began with a fundamental question: As a state-funded university of the arts, do we truly reflect the breadth of urban and national society in all its diversity?
The Diversity Management Concept is a dynamic framework that is continuously reviewed, evaluated, and refined. It aims to close diversity gaps and to recognize existing diversity as the creative potential of an arts and research university, to incorporate it into the context of teaching, and to treat the diversity already present in everyday university life with appreciation.
University with strong gender equality
"Equality" is a term that may seem outdated and cumbersome, yet it encompasses something that remains as relevant as ever—and is still far from being fully realized. It is not an abstract idea, but rather a task for society as a whole: to open up the same spaces and offer the same opportunities to all people, regardless of characteristics that could lead to discrimination. The HfMT is committed to integrating artistic practice, scholarly reflection, and equality in higher education policy, to productively address social realities, and to systematically and sustainably transform them. This is in keeping with its guiding principle: “Artistic excellence with social responsibility.” The monthly conference of the equal opportunity officers (KoGl) serves as the central body for advancing this mission. Furthermore, the work of the equal opportunity officers is effective in bilateral discussions as well as in Committees, in teaching and research, and in pedagogy and outreach. Gender equality derives its relevance in (higher education) policy from the recognition that individual life circumstances and socially entrenched patterns of perception structurally hinder professional development, particularly for women.
A significant step toward gender equality is that the HfMT has been included in the “Professorinnenprogramm 2030” (Women Professors Program 2030) of the Federal-State Initiative for Gender Equality and Diversity in Science and has also been awarded the distinction of “University with a Strong Commitment to Gender Equality.” With its submitted equity plan for parity , it is among the universities whose strategies and measures were particularly compelling in the nationwide competition.
Inclusion
The Hamburg University of Music and Drama aims to create an environment that is sensitive to inclusion and to eliminate discrimination, particularly against people with disabilities or chronic illnesses. An important component of this commitment is the Inklusion@HfMT/ARTplus certificate program, carried out in close cooperation with EUCREA e.V. It is aimed at young people with a recognized severe disability who demonstrate artistic potential, high motivation, and clear prospects for development, but who have had little or no access to professional support to date.
Initiatives, programs and collaborations
Opening Pathways to Music—for Everyone: The HfMT’s Center for the Promotion of Young Talent brings together programs for the early development of musical talent and, in collaboration with Hamburg’s music schools and partners, creates structured, flexible pathways that provide access to artistic education regardless of background. A particular focus is on inclusion: In cooperation with EUCREA e.V., the university offers ARTplus, a certificate program unique in Germany for young people with disabilities.
Further information on the Center for the Promotion of Young Talent
each one teach one
Living diversity - creating access - taking responsibility
In October 2025, the HfMT will sponsor three general education schools in Hamburg. As part of a three-year sponsorship by the Culture and Schools Project Fund, students and pupils will meet in workshops, rehearsal visits and joint artistic projectsFurtherinformation on the HfMT's school sponsorships
The Female Professors Program is a concept developed by the federal and state governments to promote gender equality at universities. It aims to increase the proportion of women in top academic positions by providing financial support for the awarding of professorships to women. The HfMT was able to achieve the title of "University with Strong Gender Equality" in the Female Professors Program 2030, which offers the opportunity to fund an additional position for a female scientist or artist, which should lead to a permanent professorship.
The Center for Gender & Diversity (ZGD) is a joint institution of various universities and colleges in Hamburg (including the HfMT) and primarily serves to network the institutions and their respective actors for diversity and equality. It supports research activities on gender & diversity, develops conferences, workshops and public offers and advises on gender and diversity aspects in research, teaching and studies. The ZGD also organizes the study certificates "Gender Competence" and "Intersectionality & Diversity" for students from all member universities.
Pro Exzellenzia is a Hamburg career competence center that was founded on the initiative of the equal opportunities officers of the seven Hamburg universities and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. The project supports highly qualified women on their way to management positions with various scholarships, coaching, workshops and networking opportunities.
The certificate program, which is part of Hamburg Innovation GmbH’s “Calls for Transfer” funding initiative, involves a collaboration between the HipHop Academy and the HfMT. The project focuses on the development of a jointly designed curriculum that combines artistic practice, education, and social participation.
For the HfMT, the project is a sign of institutional openness and is intended to open the door to new perspectives, spaces for aesthetic experience, and forms of mutual learning. Plans include introductory courses, an initial camp, and various workshops designed to foster exchange between the university and the hip-hop community. The project deliberately takes a practice- and results-oriented approach. The goal is to develop concrete formats and outcomes that make the concept of knowledge transfer visible and comprehensible.
The certificate program, carried out in close cooperation with EUCREA e.V., is aimed at young people with a recognized severe disability who demonstrate artistic potential, high motivation, and clear prospects for development, and who have had little or no access to professional support to date.
Archive
Immerse yourself. Focus. Delve deeper. Under the motto “Diversity Can Inspire,” the HfMT organized the Diversity Study Weeks during the 2023–24 winter semester. Together, we celebrate diversity, because it is not just a buzzword, but the very heart of our collaboration and creative development at an arts and sciences university.
The“Diversity at German Universities”initiative aims to raise the profile of diversity and combat discrimination. With funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) supports universities nationwide in further developing comprehensive diversity strategies. The project proposal submitted by the Hamburg University of Music and Drama was selected for funding to support our institutional diversity projects.
Important documents
The HfMT Hamburg's Diversity Management Concept was developed from within the university and was unanimously approved by the Presidential Board and the University Senate on May 8, 2014. In addition to an analysis of diversity and equality issues at the HfMT, it also presents a needs analysis and concrete measures for dealing with existing diversity and for social and cultural openness with a focus on diversity gaps.
The gender equality concept for parity was developed as part of the Female Professors Program 2030 and successfully accepted by the federal-state initiative for equality and diversity in science. In addition, the HfMT Hamburg was awarded the title of "University with Strong Gender Equality". With its submitted equality concept for parity, it is one of the universities whose strategies and measures were particularly convincing in the nationwide competition.
Equality concept for parity
This Code of Conduct provides all members and associates of the HfMT with guidelines for dealing with one another. In addition to official duties, it supplements the basic principles of trusting, fair and respectful cooperation.
On May 14, 2025, the Senate of the Hamburg University of Music and Drama unanimously adopted the anti-discrimination strategy at its meeting. No one should feel threatened at the university because of their identity.
Antidiskriminierungsstrategie.pdf
The HfMT Hamburg attaches great importance to respectful and fair interaction with one another and does not tolerate any form of discrimination, racism, disadvantage or violence. This policy sets out options for action such as the complaints procedure, counseling services and reporting channels for those affected. Particularly in artistic education, which is characterized by close contact between teachers and students, a sensitive, mindful approach is required.
The special features of an artistic education with its large proportion of individual and small group lessons and the personal dependence on the teacher, high pressure to perform and the commitment of the whole person require a particularly sensitive approach to each other and constant reflection on one's own actions.
The HfMT aims to ensure the equal participation of women at the university and to reduce disadvantages through the guideline for the advancement of women adopted in 2005.
This document contains information on applying for compensation for disadvantages for students or prospective students with (visible or invisible) disabilities or chronic illnesses.
This guide deals with the use of gender-sensitive and gender-inclusive language. In addition to recommended formulations, you will also find contact details for further questions.
This guide addresses gender-sensitive and inclusive language use. In addition to recommended phrasing, it also provides contact information for further questions.
Accepting different gender identities not only involves social interaction, but also formal steps. Students and employees of the university can find information on changing their name and gender here.
The position paper of the Rectors' Conference of Universities of Music of May 9, 2024 represents a Germany-wide position of the rectors of all universities of music on dealing with abuse of power and formulates concrete recommendations for action to prevent abuse of power for the various areas of a university of music.
RKM position paper (pdf)
RKM recommendations for action (pdf)
The recommendations for action on dealing with sexualized discrimination and violence at universities of art and music from 18 April 2023 aim to better protect students and staff. They contain ten specific measures to prevent discrimination and offer support to those affected.
Under the following link you will find a dictionary (Diversity Arts Culture Berlin), which explains basic terms in the context of diversity and attempts to provide orientation. Terms from the cultural sector are also explained.