WU promotes diversity among its students and employees, and it sees diversity as an asset. For WU, differences in physical and mental abilities do not represent an obstacle. WU is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for students and employees with and without impairments, while giving special consideration to the needs of students and employees with disabilities. The goal of WU’s diversity strategy is to create equal opportunities regarding the access to resources, education, career opportunities, and networks, especially for disadvantaged groups and individuals. Campus WU has been designed for barrier-free accessibility and provides an ideal environment for achieving this objective.

A dedicated institute

As early as 2002, WU established a dedicated Institute for Gender and Diversity in Organizations. The institute’s research and teaching activities focus on organizations and social diversity, while also looking at the relevant social contexts. The institute offers courses in the Master’s Program in Management, in WU’s doctoral and PhD programs, and in the bachelor’s-level specialization (SBW) in “Diversity Management.”

In 2017, WU started offering special student tutor positions and marginal employment jobs in university administration for people with disabilities on a regular basis. These jobs give people with disabilities the opportunity to gain the work experience they need to go on to other positions at WU or elsewhere.

Support that goes beyond categories

While diversity management and inclusion can bring about a number of important improvements for disadvantaged groups (e.g. programs for the advancement of women), there is a risk – especially in light of recent changes in society – that these approaches focus too much on specific social categories, overlooking the fact that there are also people in need of support outside of these categories.

At WU an anti-categorical approach looks at all types of disadvantaged people, regardless of their social categories. It is clear that this approach leads to greater solidarity and a stronger shared sense of commitment when it comes to fighting for improvements.