About Us

The Administrative Department of Equality, Gender Studies and Diversity (GGD) at the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna was established in fulfilment of § 19 para 2 subpara 7 of the Austrian Universities Act (UG) of 2002. It reports to the Office of the Vice Rector for Organisational Development, Gender & Diversity.

 

In accordance with the Austrian University Act 2002, equal opportunities represent one of the University’s most fundamental principles and missions. The University Act stipulates that every university must set up a working group for equal opportunity issues and governs its gender composition, rights and duties (§ 42). It also stipulates that every university must incorporate a Women’s Advancement Plan and an Equal Opportunities Plan in its statutes (§ 20b).

The Austrian Equal Opportunities Act regulates the equal treatment of women and men, the advancement of women, as well as equal opportunities without discrimination based on ethnicity, religion or worldview, age or sexual orientation (anti-discrimination) in service and training relationships, as well as a ban on discrimination in connection with a study programme. The Austrian Equal Opportunities Act draws a distinction between direct and indirect discrimination and stipulates that sexual harassment and gender-based harassment constitute discrimination based on gender.

 

OBJECTIVES

  • A university that is sensitive to diversity and upholds gender equality

  • Well-founded artistic and academic knowledge of gender and diversity in music • theatre • film

  • Anchoring of gender studies in mdw curricula

  • Integration of issues pertaining to gender and diversity as part of the sociopolitical objectives of the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

CONTACTS

Mag.a Ulli Mayer
mayer-u(at)mdw.ac.at
+43-1-71155-6073
Room B0259

Dr. Mag.a Andrea Ellmeier
ellmeier-a(at)mdw.ac.at
+43-1-71155-6070
Room B0249

Laura Eichenseer, MAS
eichenseer(at)mdw.ac.at
+43-1-71155-6071
Room: B0247

Mag.a Veronika Leiner, MAS
Mentoring-Programm "Reach higher, reach beyond"
leiner(at)mdw.ac.at
+43-1-71155-7451

Mag.a Jenn Stoll
stoll(at)mdw.ac.at
T: tba
Raum: tba

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Sensitisation to gender- and diversity-related concerns at all levels of the University

  • Integration of gender and diversity issues into teaching and research

  • Development and implementation of an mdw Diversity Strategy

  • Gender gap analysis of mdw disciplines of study ► GenderScreening_mdw

  • Provision of advice and expertise to executive-level University administrators

  • (Co-)conception and (co-)organisation of the mdw’s annual Gender Lectures

  • (Co-)editing of the publication series mdw Gender Wissen

  • Gender and diversity sensitivity training for faculty, administrators, and students in cooperation with the Human Resources Development – Center for Further Education (ZfW) staff

  • Curation and management of Platform Gender_mdw

  • Development, support, and/or conduct of gender studies projects and events together with the gender studies professor, with members of Platform Gender_mdw, and with colleagues from other service departments

  • Cooperation with mdw faculty members who are interested in gender studies

  • Cooperation with the hmdw’s Equality and Diversity Department

  • Continual exchange with the Working Group on Equal Opportunities (AKG)

  • Encouraging the use of gender-sensitive language (together with the AKG)

  • Participation in the Austria-wide Gender Platform

  • Membership in the KEG (Committee of Women's and Gender Studies Institutions in German-Speaking Areas)

  • Membership in the Gender Studies Association Austria

 

ANNUAL REPORT (only available in German)

 

RELEVANT STATUTE SECTION & DOKUMENTES

Womens Advancement Plan
The aim of the Women’s Advancement Plan is to eliminate the current underrepresentation of women in all organisational units, at all hierarchical levels, in all functions and activities, and to implement equal opportunities and the advancement of women in personnel policy, distribution of resources, research, and the opening up of the arts and teaching to women. Besides this, the Women’s Advancement Plan includes stipulations on gender-neutral language, gender mainstreaming and the development and expansion of Women’s Studies and Gender Studies at the mdw.

Equal Opportunities Plan
In addition to the Women’s Advancement Plan, the Equal Opportunities Plan serves to implement constitutional and statutory requirements for the equality and equal treatment of all university members. It covers the core dimensions of diversity – namely gender, ethnicity, religion or worldview, age, sexual orientation, and disability.

Gender Equality Plan
The Gender Equality Plan provides a summary of mdw’s provisions concerning the recommended process-oriented criteria for GEPs in relation to dedicated resources; data collection and monitoring (analysing sex- and/or gender-disaggregated data on personnel and students); and awareness-raising activities and training on gender equality and unconscious gender biases.

 

GUIDELINES

Code of Conduct of the mdw University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
The Code of Conduct is a framework providing orientation for people working at the mdw regarding their behaviour. It serves as a guideline for internal cooperation among colleagues as well as for the contact with external partners and the general public.

Guideline of the Rectorate on dealing with sexual discrimination and violence at the mdw University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
The mdw aims to create an environment in which all members of the university can work together respectfully. As particular forms of discrimination and abuse of power, sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, harassment based on sexual orientation and forms of sexualized violence are contrary to the central principles and values of the mdw. In conjunction with the Code of Conduct of the mdw, the aim of this policy, Guideline of the Rectorate on dealing with sexual discrimination and violence at the mdw University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, is to prevent any form of sexualized discrimination and violence at the mdw.