This week the University of Bremen was host to the Vice President of the German Research Society (DFG), Prof. Dr. Ferdi Schüth from the Max-Planck Institute füf Kohlenforschung in Mülheim an der Ruhr. The University Vice President responsible for the areas of research and young academics, Prof. Dr. Rolf Drechsler, and the Chancellor, Gerd-Rüdiger Kück, organized a top-level round comprising the Deans of faculties, spokespersons representing the collaborative research centers at the University of Bremen, and applicants from research training groups so that they could get a first-hand account of the objectives pursued by the research-oriented standards on gender equality adopted by the DFG and its impact on the acquisition of external funding.

The DFG Vice President expressed praise for the University of Bremen for the way it has implemented research-oriented standards on gender equality and recommended the University of Bremen to continue steadfastly along this path. In his talk Prof. Schüth emphasized the success factor of equal opportunity in the selection of applications for project funding submitted to the DFG, particularly in the areas of research training groups and collaborative research centers, but also within the context of the Excellence Initiative.

In accordance with a resolution adopted by the annual assembly of DFG members held in 2008, universities are to commit themselves to promoting the principle of equal opportunity form men and women in all fields. The DFG appraises the anchoring of equal gender opportunity on the leadership level, the availability of accurate data, the understanding of variety as a criterion of excellence, and convincing targets to increase the female quota. The Bremen concept ranks at the very top.

The agreed upon standards are to be introduced step by step by 2013. On 15th February 2011 all DFG members will have to submit their interim reports. The reports and subsequent evaluations will be made public.