With the implementation of a Diversity Strategy, BOKU is committed to a culture of diversity and an attitude of appreciation towards all students and employees at BOKU.

Like all areas of society, universities are also permeated by power relations that affect individuals in the form of privileges and disadvantages. As a university, BOKU has a social responsibility to enable equal participation and successful studying and working for all*.  

One of BOKU's essential concerns is to make diversity liveable but also visible and to create a fair environment for all members. With concrete measures in the areas of study, teaching, research, personnel and international affairs, BOKU is committed to dismantling structural barriers in order to achieve equal access and advancement opportunities for all*.

Logo der Diversitätsstrategie der BOKU mit Sternsymbol und dem Claim Sustainable Diversity

Status Quo

With its commitment to implementing a diversity strategy, BOKU has set itself the goal of making the university more equal opportunity, more inclusive and more diverse. After the first participatory milestone of the process - the kick-off event of the strategy in the context of the "Werte im Wandel" days in November 2022, the Coordination Office for Gender Equality, Diversity and Accessibility (Ko-Stelle) continues to work intensively with the client of the strategy, the university management. Meetings with BOKU members and stakeholders take place on an ongoing basis in order to be able to implement and realize diversity jointly and effectively. In total, about 100 measures have been identified so far in this participatory process, which are now being reviewed in terms of feasibility, financial viability and effectiveness in exchange with the rectorate and will be elaborated in detail in the future. The first measures within the framework of the diversity strategy will be implemented before the end of 2023 and will be visible at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences.

Vor dem Hintergrund des Ilse-Wallentin-Hauses hält eine Person das Schild mit der Aufschrift "Raum für Vielfalt" in die Kamera.

Vor dem Hintergrund des Ilse-Wallentin-Hauses hält eine Person das Schild mit der Aufschrift "Raum für Vielfalt" in die Kamera.

How should diversity be lived and experienced at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in the future?

At the kick-off of the BOKU Diversity Strategy (DSB) on November 16 from 13:00 to 17:00 this important question will be answered in a participatory way. All BOKU members are cordially invited to participate and to jointly contribute ideas and recommendations for action at the kick-off. They will be accompanied by BOKU internal and external experts in the fields of equality, diversity and inclusion.

Welcome Rector LL.M. Univ.Prof. Mag. Dr.iur. Eva Schulev-Steindl

Keynote Dr.in Roswitha Hofmann

World Café Within the framework of a World Café format, topic tables on the individual fields of action will be available: Diversity and University Management, Diversity and Studies, Diversity and Teaching, Diversity and Research, Diversity and International Affairs, Diversity and Human Resources, Open Topic Table Diversity and (...). Along guiding questions, important impulses for BOKU can be discussed and ideas for measures can be contributed.

Moderation Gabriele Bargehr, DSA.in, MSc

Exchange and Networking After the content-related exchange, there will be time for further exchange over snacks and DJ sounds.

BOKU Awareness Days

The annual Awareness Days focus on gender equality, diversity and inclusion and offer various formats such as workshops, panel discussions or networking spaces.

For November 2023, focal points for different target groups are planned, including psycho-social health, gender-based violence, anti/racism, inclusive language and image use, and gender diversity.

All BOKU members will be invited to benefit from the free offer.

6 Key Targets

A key concern of BOKU is to achieve equal access and advancement opportunities and equity for all and to break down structural barriers. The following six key targets are intersectionally intertwined and guide this process:

Equity and Anti-discrimination

Accessibility and inclusion

Social inclusion

Reconciliation of study, work, and other areas of life

Generational equity

Ethnic Diversity & Antiracism

Sustainable Diversity is the key concept of the diversity strategy of BOKU. The DSB combines six strategic core goals with the following eight Sustainable Development Goals/Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda: SDG 1 - No poverty, SDG 2 - Zero hunger, SDG 3 - Good health and well-being, SDG 4 - Quality Education, SDG 5 - Gender Equality, SDG 8 - Decent work, SDG 10 - Reduced inequalities and SDG 16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions.

7 Fields of Action

To ensure that more equal opportunities and participation are possible for all people studying and working at BOKU, it is necessary to implement targeted measures in all areas and at all levels of the university. The BOKU diversity strategy therefore focuses on seven fields of action:

University management

Study

Teaching

Research

Personnel

International

Communication

In all seven fields of action, the DSB is committed to taking concrete measures to make studying and working fair for all and to break down barriers.

Hand hält Sternsymbol nach oben

First measure implemented

As a first measure within the framework of the diversity strategy, a recommendation for language use at BOKU was developed. The recommendation is available as a short and long version in German and English, find more information here.

Accompanying formats such as discussion forums and introductory workshops on diversity-sensitive language are offered regularly. For more information check our website.

zusammengefügter Holzstern und Schachtel mit einzelnen Holzteilen
zwei Hände, die einen zusammengefügten Holzstern halten

Many elements, bright colors and the possibility of variable composition, the diversity star symbolizes diversity of perspective, mobility and transformation.

New (color) spaces emerge through the overlapping of the color spectrum and illustrates the importance of the intersection and interaction of the individual parts. Only the combination enables something new to emerge, only through the involvement of all individual parts can the overall work succeed.