Family-Friendly University Audit

The University of Bonn has been certified under the Family-Friendly University Audit since December 2011. Since then, the University has made considerable attempts to develop specific measures to facilitate the working life of staff members and students with family responsibilities. The strategic development of appropriate personnel measures remains a target after completion of the dialog phase.

Framework conditions and aims

Aims

The following aims are at the center of the family-friendly university audit:

The integration of a family-friendly approach in the University philosophy
The establishment of a comprehensive and complete family-friendly working and studying atmosphere in the University and its communication
Ensuring a high level of diffusion

The audit begins with an appraisal of the measures and instruments already implemented to ensure the diffusion of a family-friendly and life-phase conscious culture. Strategies are then developed to extend the existing potential of the organization under review; binding targets are established to ensure that an understanding of the central issues is anchored in the culture of the organization. This process is applicable to organizations of different size in all branches. After completion of this process, the board of trustees (an independent panel of high-level representatives from industry, academia, politics and trade associations) issues the audit certificate.

After completion of this process, the board of trustees (an independent panel of high-level representatives from industry, academia, politics and trade associations) issues the audit certificate.

The re-auditing phase

After three years, a re-audit can agree further targets designed to develop personnel policy. The organization may only continue to hold the certificate if it passes the re-auditing phase. Since the introduction of the audit in 1998, the certificate in which it culminates has been awarded to over 1,600 employers. The Family-Friendly University Audit certificate issued by berufundfamilie is currently held by more than 1,700 employers, covering 2 million employees and 1.4 million students.

The dialog phase

The University of Bonn has been engaged in the last phase of the audit –the dialog phase– since March 2021 and focuses on structured discussions and workshops with

managers,
employees
and students from various areas.

This phase aims to assess the status quo and develop an action plan for subsequent years.

Family Minister Franziska Giffey and Xenia Lehr, the head of the Office of Family Services with further persons at the award of the certificate in 2018

The award of the Family-Friendly University Audit certificate in Berlin, 2018 © berufundfamilie Service GmbH

"Week of Compatibility" (07.11. - 11.11.2022)

For the first time, the University of Bonn participates in the annual "Week of Compatibility" organized by the service center "berufundfamilie Service GmbH" from 07.11. to 11.11.2022. This year, under the motto "together for more agreement ", the service center is presenting examples of good practice, worthy of imitation, from employers who are certified according to the audit berufundfamilie or audit familiengerechte hochschule. These examples are intended to show how organizations actively take up the idea of solidarity, which cooperations they enter into and in what form they promote mutual support among employees. As a certified family-friendly university, the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität is participating in the "Week of Compatibility" with the two good practice examples "Nursing Guides" and "Round Table on Issues of Compatibility between Science, Work and Family". See also https://www.berufundfamilie.de/woche-der-vereinbarkeit