Karlsruhe Institute of Technology is increasing its efforts to enhance the compatibility of studies and family. Together with the gender equality commissioners of the Karlsruhe University of Education and Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, the KIT Gender Equality Office has established the Alliance for Family. The project group “Studying with a child in Karlsruhe” of this alliance will organize an information event for studying parents at KIT on Wednesday afternoon, May 19, 15.30 hrs.
The Karlsruhe Alliance for Family aims at sensitizing the public for the compatibility of studies and family, increasing public awareness, and improving the situation of about 2000 studying parents in Karlsruhe. “In an aging society in particular, it must be normal that young people become parents,” says Claudia Schäfer, director of the alliance. “We need new action strategies, networked family-oriented offers, and a family-friendly climate at the university location.”
The project group “Studying with a child in Karlsruhe” started its work on May 15, the 2010 action day of local alliances for families. On Wednesday, May 19, 15.30 hrs, an information afternoon for studying parents will be organized at KIT as the first action under the heading “Bitte mit Familie – Studieren mit Kind in Karlsruhe” (A fa-mily please – studying with a child in Karlsruhe). The event will provide information on offers and current data regarding the situation of students with a child. Workshops of the project group and students will then help to identify the needs of students in Karlsruhe and the support actions desired by them. Participants can bring along their children, as day care will be provided.
Based on the results obtained, the project group wishes to initiate a university-overlapping process for family friendliness during the studies. A coffee bar for parents is planned, where studying parents can exchange information and establish networks.
In Germany, six to seven percent of all students have (at least) one child. In view of a total of about 33,000 students at all universities in Karlsruhe, this means that about 2000 students are parents and reconcile studies, family, and often employment with a lot of organizational talent and best time management – largely unnoticed by others.
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