University of Kassel founds competence center for gender research in transformation

The center functions as a discourse space and research architecture in which researchers from various Faculties at the University of Kassel work together. With its interdisciplinary and intersectional orientation, it integrates different perspectives and methods of gender and transformation research. The name underlines the special consideration given to social change and at the same time forms a bridge to the guiding principle of sustainability. In this respect, the center is also part of the profile development in research on - here: social - sustainability.

Projects and analyses along three research clusters are dedicated, for example, to the interweaving of gender relations with socio-ecological transformation processes, explained Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Tuider on behalf of the Board of Directors, adding: "The university's profile in this area is strengthened because planned projects and research projects work on intersectional as well as inter- and transdisciplinary and international gender research through cooperation between different disciplines and faculties. The analysis of precarious lives and global relations of violence highlights the international significance of gender and diversity research."

The Vice President of the University of Kassel, Prof. Dr. Sonja Buckel, emphasizes: "As university management, we are pleased that the established gender research at the University of Kassel has developed into its own competence and research center. Especially in these times, this is also an important sign for the strengthening of academic freedom."

The center will also act as a bridge to civil society initiatives in Kassel and beyond and support cooperation with regional, national and international gender research institutions. The promotion of academics in the qualification phase will also be strengthened and the well-established gender studies program will be continued.

The University of Kassel can look back on a long tradition of gender research. In 2022, the Interdisciplinary Working Group on Women's and Gender Studies (IAG FG) celebrated its 35th anniversary. Several Research Training Groups funded by the German Research Foundation have dealt with topics such as gender relations and the dynamics of space and gender. In addition, various research focuses and projects in gender studies have been established at the University of Kassel, which support the institutional anchoring and further development of the research field.

Press contact:

Sebastian Mense
University of Kassel
Communication and Marketing
Phone: +49 561 804-1961
E-mail: presse[at]uni-kassel[dot]de