Our equality, diversity and inclusion policy
The University of Strasbourg is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and has established a dedicated Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Office to put this commitment into action. Its responsibilities include:
- Promoting gender equality in recruitment, career development and progression
- Identifying and addressing recurring inequalities or any form of discrimination affecting staff or students
- Raising awareness of issues such as abuse of power, bullying and sexual harassment
- Supporting a positive working and learning environment, helping everyone balance their career and personal life
You can contact the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Office by email for guidance and support.
Promoting gender equality
The University of Strasbourg committed to upholding gender equality in all aspects of university life for students and staff. It has put in place an action plan that aligns with national law as well as national and European recommendations. The plan is structured around six strategic areas:
- Monitoring, preventing and addressing pay gaps
- Ensuring equal employment opportunities in the public sector
- Supporting a healthy work-life balance
- Preventing and tackling discrimination, acts of violence, harassment, sexual harassment and sexist behaviour
- Promoting equality policies throughout the university
- Engaging with students and prospective students to raise awareness and support equality
Committing to gender equality at national and international level
The university plays a key role at national level. It is one of the 11 founding members of the Standing Conference of Equality and Diversity Officers (Conférence permanente des chargé·e·s de mission égalité et diversité – CPED, website only available in French), which it chaired from its creation in 2011 until November 2016. The university is also part of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Policy Group of the League of European Research Universities (LERU).
Each year, the university community is invited to advocate for women's rights on International Women's Day on 8 March. The aim is to highlight the place of women in our history and society.
Preventing and combating gender-based, sexual, homophobic and transphobic violence
The university is committed to lending an ear, and providing support and assistance to the entire university community (all students, and faculty and administrative staff members). If you witness or are a victim of gender-based, sexual, homophobic or transphobic violence: "Speak out! Don’t keep quiet or feel you’re alone."
A listening and support service (VSSH – gender-based, sexual, homophobic and transphobic violence) is on hand to provide you with rapid and professional support. It is made up of a psychologist, a social worker and legal experts. You can contact them by email at violences-sexistes@unistra.fr. The team will get back to you within two business days.
Each year on 25 November, the university marks its commitment to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women by stepping up its awareness-raising and prevention initiatives aimed at the university community.
Raising awareness of and combating discrimination
The university promotes education as a lever for change. The aim is to raise awareness among experts and citizens of the processes in place and to teach them how to best identify ways to combat discrimination. Students have access to a number of introductory courses, for example, "Discrimination: Identification, Understanding and Action" (Identification, compréhension et actions) and "History of Women and Gender" (Histoire des femmes et du genre). Some training incorporates awareness-raising courses and workshops, or includes mandatory courses, for example, the European School of Chemistry, Polymers and Materials Science (École européenne d'ingénieurs de chimie, polymères et matériaux – ECPM) has introduced a mandatory course entitled "Gender Equality: stereotypes and discrimination" (Égalité femmes-hommes : stéréotypes et discriminations). Similarly, future teachers at the Higher Institute for Teaching and Education (Institut national supérieur du professorat et de l'éducation – Inspé, website only available in French) follow a module on gender equality, stereotypes and discrimination. For further specialisation, the Sociology master's degree offers an academic programme entitled "Inequality and Discrimination" (Inégalités et discriminations, website only available in French).
The university also participates in the project entitled "New Approach to Post-High School Orientation in Alsace" (Nouvelle approche pour l'orientation post-bac en Alsace – Noria, website only available in French), whose aim is to support the ambitions of people who are not exposed to the studying environment, facilitate their orientation, deconstruct stereotypes, and reduce self-limiting beliefs that prevent them from considering studying as an option.
The Office for Scientific Culture and Mediation – Jardin des sciences (website only available in French) is working with the Femmes & Sciences association to raise awareness of women in science among teachers and high-school pupils to commemorate occasions such as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11 February).
Integrating the university's equality, parity and diversity policy
At the heart of its commitment to equality, parity and diversity, the university has created the Equality, Parity and Diversity Task Force under the leadership of the Vice-President for Equality, Parity, Diversity and the Fight Against Discrimination. Its role is to implement the equality action plan and coordinate actions to prevent, raise awareness of and combat violence, discrimination and equality. It regularly assesses the situation at the university and recommends adjustments to ensure a respectful, inclusive and serene environment for the entire university community.
Get to know the Presidency team
A network of equality officers
The university's equality officers organise events and initiatives to promote equality in their respective faculty, service or research laboratory. This network of over 50 people promotes the actions implemented by the university as part of the equality action plan. It facilitates the exchange of best practices and the sharing of initiatives. It acts as a link between faculties, services, laboratories, and the Equality, Parity and Diversity Task Force and its designated vice-president.
Go to the list on the intranet (Ernest) containing the university's equality officers
Equality, Parity and Diversity Task Force
The Vice-President for Equality, Parity, Diversity and the Fight Against Discrimination: Camille Fauth
Useful resources
Legal texts and references
- Action Plan for Gender Equality in the Workplace (2025-2027)
- Comparative Situation Report (between men and women, 2022)
- Analysis of Pay Gaps Between Women and Men at the University of Strasbourg (2022)