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  1.  University of bamberg
  2. University
  3. Characteristics and Culture
  4. Diversity
  5. Diversity Management
  6. Preventing Racism and Antisemitism (PRA)

Preventing Racism and Antisemitism (PRA)

Word cloud Prevention work against racism & anti-Semitism

Shaping a Cosmopolitan University of Bamberg

The University of Bamberg advocates for open-mindedness, tolerance, and an appreciation for human diversity. The university opposes racist, antisemitic, and anti-democratic hostility and works toward a respectful, open-minded environment for teaching, studying, research, work, and university life. As stated in its Diversity Strategy, the university is committed to fighting existing types of discrimination, supporting those affected by discrimination, and shouldering its societal responsibility for fostering diversity.

Raising Awareness against Racism and Antisemitism

In order to achieve those goals, the university is enhancing its preventative initiatives against racism and antisemitism. Training courses, workshops, roundtables, and other events are planned to raise all university members' awareness against everyday, institutional, and systemic racism and antisemitism. With a critical eye toward its function and workings as an educational and research institution, the University of Bamberg strives for a safe environment, free from discrimination, that facilitates fruitful academic exchange and compassionate cooperation.

The STIBET-Program of the German Academic Exchange Service - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) is supporting the university's work against racism and antisemitism until the end of 2024. A concept for sustainable preventative measures, also in view of the university's international welcoming culture, is being developed.

Working Definitions

With reference to the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, our understanding of racism is that of an ideology devaluating people due to their appearance, their name, and their (assumed) culture, origin, or religion. Racism means judging and devaluing people because they supposedly belong to some homogeneous group instead of forming an opinion based on their individual merits, abilities, and qualities. In our societal realities, racism can take on many different forms, which is why we also speak of racisms in the plural. Anti-Black racism, anti-Muslim racism, anti-Slavic racism, anti-Asian racism, and racism against Roma and Sinti are examples of specific forms of racism (cf. the 2023 report of the National Monitoring of Discrimination and Racism(3.2 MB)).

Our understanding of antisemitism is predicated on the working definition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) from 2016: "Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities."

There are different forms of discrimination - direct and indirect. As outlined in the university's directive "Respecting Boundaries," direct or open discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favorably on the grounds of one or several protected characteristics compared to another person in a similar situation. Indirect discrimination occurs when seemingly neutral rules and regulations put a person at a disadvantage on the grounds of one or several protected characteristics.

Latest News

Campaign "Unboxing Discrimination"

“Unboxing Discrimination” wants to encourage members of the university to share their discriminatory experiences. From mid-January 2025 until the beginning of the summer term 2025, you will find the campaign boxes in all branch libraries as well as the International Office. Alternatively, you can also use the online form. If you have encountered racism or antisemitism at the University of Bamberg, we invite you to anonymously participate in the campaign in order to shed more light on discrimination at our institution and raise awareness of the issue.

Certificate for Critical Education on Antisemitism

Starting in the winter semester 2024/25, all students in Bachelor's, consecutive Master's, and teacher training study programs at the University of Bamberg can obtain a graded certificate in the field of Critical Education on Antisemitism. This certificate is a complement to courses of past semesters and their academic focus on preventing antisemitism.

Round Table against Racism and Antisemitism

In various branches and on different levels of the institution, through different groups, activities, and research foci, members of the University of Bamberg are committed to fighting racism and antisemitism. To further intensify the dialog among these individuals and their work, the university has initiated a Round Table against Racism and Antisemitism. Coming together once a semester at the invitation of the Vice-President for Diversity and International Affairs, the round table provides a regular platform for exchanging ideas on current subject matters, questions, and approaches to creating a more tolerant, non-discriminatory university environment. The inaugural meeting took place on 08 October 2024.

Contact Points

at the University of Bamberg

  • The Anti-Discrimination Office at the University of Bamberg provides strictly confidential counseling.
  • The directive "Grenzen wahren" determines measures and procedures for prevention as well as intervention.

outside of the university

Announcement

Poster and Film Competition “Together Against Racism”

Young people between 11 and 27 years of age are asked to participate in the creative competition, which is part of Bamberg's International Weeks Against Racism organized by the Immigrants and Integration Advisory Council.

Submit your entries by 28 February 2025.

Further information and call for contributions