Diversity and equality
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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.
Diversity can inspire - HfMT against discrimination
The Diversity Steering Group was established in 2018 to highlight diversity at the HfMT, raise awareness of its impact on campus life, and develop a diversity management plan. A working group comprising interested parties from all staff categories at the HfMT—including professors from the various academic deans’ offices, members of the extended executive board, the equal opportunity officers, the head of the Quality Management Office, staff from the Career Center and the International Office, the university’s legal counsel, students, and other administrative staff as well as mid-level academic faculty. This steering group, appointed by the University Senate, adopted the following motto as its goal:
The people at the HfMT live diversity in respectful coexistence.
The steering group is currently led by Dr. Bilinc Ercan-Catanzaro and Maike Arnemann.
Add to and expand this so that it functions as an introductory text on diversity
University with strong gender equality
"Equality" is a seemingly outdated and unwieldy term, yet it encompasses something that is always topical and far from being realized. It is not an abstract idea, but a task for society as a whole to open up the same spaces and offer the same opportunities to all people, regardless of discrimination. The HfMT has the special ambition to combine artistic practice, academic reflection and equality in higher education policy, to productively address social realities and to systematically bring about lasting change. True to the guiding principle: "Artistic excellence in social responsibility". The monthly Conference of Gender Equality Officers (KoGl) is the central body for achieving this goal. In addition, the work of the Equal Opportunities Officers is effective in bilateral discussions as well as in Committees, in teaching and research or in pedagogy and mediation. Equality gains its (university) political relevance from the realization that individual life circumstances and socially entrenched patterns of perception structurally hinder professional development, especially for women.
A significant step towards equality is that the HfMT has been included in the Female Professors Program 2030 of the Federal-Länder Initiative for Equality and Diversity in Science and has also been awarded the title "University with Strong Gender Equality" was awarded. With her submitted equality concept for parity it is one of the universities whose strategies and measures were particularly convincing in the nationwide competition.
Initiatives, programs and collaborations
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 "Diversity at German universities" initiative aims to make diversity more visible and reduce discrimination. With funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research(BMBF), the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) supports universities nationwide in the further development of holistic diversity concepts. The project application submitted by the Hamburg University of Music and Drama was selected for funding for our institutional diversity projects.
Immerse yourself. Concentrate. Deepen. Under the motto Diversity can Inspire, the HfMT organized the Diversity Study Weeks in the winter semester 2023/24. Together we celebrate diversity, because it is not just a buzzword, but the heart of our interaction and creative development at an artistic-academic university.
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.
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Help and advice
Do you need support? We are here to help. It is important to the University of Music and Drama that staff, students and guests treat each other fairly and respectfully. The conditions of artistic and academic training with its large proportion of individual and small group lessons, personal dependence on the teacher, high pressure to perform and the commitment of the whole person require a particularly sensitive approach to each other. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need help.
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.
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 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
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.