“The compatibility of career, studies and family is an integral part of the university strategy,” emphasized Rector Peter Middendorf at the beginning of the Family-Friendly University 2024 Dialogue Day, when the Rectorate discussed the topic ‘Strategic importance of the family-friendly university certificate for the University of Stuttgart’. "We are dedicated to achieving our goal of making reconciliation between work, study, and family even more accessible and sustainable for all employees and students."
About the"family-friendly university audit“
The University of Stuttgart was first certified as a "family-friendly university" in 2012. This certification was confirmed in 2015 and again in 2018. Since the successful completion of the 2022 dialog process, it now holds the Europe-wide “family-friendly university” certificate for an indefinite period. The certificate must be renewed every three years by berufundfamilie Service GmbH during a dialogue day in the presence of the auditor, with the action program being further developed in the process.
This year's Dialogue Day focused on the topics of “Requirements for large-scale child daycare” and “Information and communication of processes and services”, for which specific measures were developed in two workshops.
Childcare: Transitional solution for arriving families
The childcare provision in the Stuttgart Region is very limited; there is hardly any support available for families moving to the region or for those with special childcare needs arising from the scientific environment and diversity aspects. The university is therefore considering setting up a large daycare facility for children on Campus Vaihingen. The workshop first identified the needs of academics with families and then determined the requirements for a large daycare facility for children at the University of Stuttgart, taking into account legal and spatial constraints.
Communication of information on reconciling work, studies and family life
For a family-friendly university, it is crucial that everyone with family or management responsibilities is aware of the available options, legal foundations, and services, and knows where and how to access support. The prerequisite for this is that the information on the various channels is prepared in a practice-oriented manner, is available and easy to find and that managers, teachers and relevant departments know and use it.
In the workshop, participants discussed the need to improve the existing information resources, and the communication formats used so far. It became evident that, in addition improvements to processes through coordinated informational materials and a revision of the websites, particular emphasis must be placed on the university's culture, which is more challenging to change.
Chancellor Anna Steiger emphasized: “In order for the University of Stuttgart to be an attractive and reliable employer, we must also support managers and teaching staff in acting in accordance with our shared values. We can become even more family-friendly as a university through open, respectful communication and a shared, positive attitude towards work-life balance issues.”
What else is the University of Stuttgart planning to do to make it more family-friendly?
The University and Family team is now integrating the topics discussed at the Dialogue Day into the University of Stuttgart's plan of action, in consultation with the university management and the auditor. Possible measures for even more family friendliness and to compensate for locational disadvantages are:
- Childcare placement office
- Housing platform for anyone looking for a suitable housing solution
- Onboarding programs for various target groups to raise awareness of family issues
- Extended equipment for mobile working
- Support for early career researchers with family commitments
- Temporary funding for externally funded projects to provide greater security in balancing an academic career with starting a family.
- Structural support for university members with care responsibilities
- Integrated concept and implementation of family-friendly infrastructure
What does the University of Stuttgart currently offer to support the balance between work, study, and family life?
- Information and services ranging from advice on parent-child offices and rest areas to family networks [de]
- Flexible working hours and arrangements for location-independent working [de]
- Wide range of childcare services [de]
- Care coordinator as a contact point for questions about uniting university and care responsibilities [de]
- Newsletter Uni & Familie [de]
- Dual career program for newly appointed professionals with family support
- Welcome Center for international researchers with family support
- Seminars in continuing education programs [de]and leadership development [de]
Parent-child offices as best practice
By the way: The parent-child offices at the University of Stuttgart are highlighted as a best-practice example in the familyNET online guide. [de] The online guide offers concise and practical information to assist interested parties in successfully implementing company-supported childcare. The familyNET network, comprising 2,500 companies and institutions, is an initiative by the employers' associations Südwestmetall and Chemie, coordinated by the Bildungswerk der Baden-Württembergischen Wirtschaft e.V., with the State of Baden-Württemberg as a cooperation partner.
