Today at Berlin, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is granted the family-compatible university audit certificate for its family-friendly human resources policy. The KIT is one of 322 employers, who are handed over the certificate of berufundfamilie gGmbH – an initiative of the Hertie Foundation – by Caren Marks, Parliamentary Undersecretary of the Federal Family Ministry, Iris Gleicke, Parliamentary Undersecretary of the Federal Ministry of Economics, Dr. Frank-Jürgen Weise, Chairman of the Board of the non-profit Hertie Foundation, and Stefan Becker, Director of berufundfamilie gGmbH.
For the first time, KIT was granted the certificate in 2010. Since then, it has undertaken big efforts to further enhance the compatibility of studies, job, and family. Among others, KIT increased the number of childcare places by opening the KinderUniversum childcare facility. In addition, KIT offers more flexible working times to employees with children or relatives in need of care. “The KIT wishes to help its employees as well as its students to be successful during the studies and in their job and to care for their families at the same time,” says Dr. Elke Luise Barnstedt, Vice President for Human Resources and Law at KIT. “The certificate shows that we are on a good way.”
In the course of the audit, companies and institutions analyze their already existing offers for a better balance of studies, job, and family. Moreover, they develop projects on areas extending from work organization to human resources development and define objectives in implementing family awareness in the corporate mission and work life. berufundfamilie gGmbH checks the level of practical implementation. After three years, new objectives can be agreed upon during a reauditing process. Only then may the employer keep the certificate. The KIT is among the 129 employers who successfully passed the family-compatible university audit for the second time already.
In close partnership with society, KIT develops solutions for urgent challenges – from climate change, energy transition and sustainable use of natural resources to artificial intelligence, sovereignty and an aging population. As The University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT unites scientific excellence from insight to application-driven research under one roof – and is thus in a unique position to drive this transformation. As a University of Excellence, KIT offers its more than 10,000 employees and 22,800 students outstanding opportunities to shape a sustainable and resilient future. KIT – Science for Impact.