Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences establishes an Equal Opportunities Committee.
The Senate of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences is responsible for appointing six committees tasked with supporting and advising in specific fields and areas of expertise. Each commission can recommend and put forth new measures within their remit to the Senate.
The Constitution of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, the Senate’s Rules of Procedure or the Evaluation Regulations define the composition of these committees. Committees are composed of the following members with voting power:
- representatives from the professors,
- representativse from the academic staff,
- representatives from the non-academic staff,
- representatives from the students.
Various stakeholders from HSRW as well as members of the Executive Board can also participate in committee meetings in an advisory capacity, but without voting power.
Overview of Committees
The members of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences elect the members of the Equal Opportunities Committee within the meaning of § 24 para. 4 HG NRW.
The Equal Opportunities Committee is comprised of equal numbers of two professors, two academic staff members, two non-academic staff members and two students.
It supports the work of the Equal Opportunities Officer and thus Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences in carrying out its social mission of equal opportunities. The Equal Opportunities Committee also advises the Executive Board and other committees at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences on matters relating to equal opportunity policy.
The main duty of this committee is to advise on matters relating to the central and strategic management of interdisciplinary research and knowledge transfer. This entails in detail:
- supporting the (continued) development of research focus areas,
- supporting and advising with regard to in-house research funding,
- advising on grant applications,
- issuing recommendations for funding allocation,
- advising on research reports, the evaluation of research activities, and quality assurance measures.
KFT is supervised and assisted in its duties by the Centre for Research, Innovation and Transfer (ZFIT). ZFIT and HSRW’s Department of Resources also participate in sessions in an advisory role.
Elected members of the committee are:
- seven representatives from the professors, whereby each faculty must be represented,
- two representatives from the academic staff,
- two representatives from the non-academic staff,
- two representatives from the students.
The main duty of this committee involves issuing recommendations and position statements on academic issues affecting Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (either as a whole or its central bodies in particular) or issues of fundamental importance, as well as issuing recommendations and position statements on published evaluation reports.
Committee members confer and issue recommendations, for example, on current regulations and fundamental aspects of academic operations at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences affecting teachers and students, internationalisation in higher education, and the evaluation process for teachers. Beyond that, the committee also looks at areas and projects at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences dedicated to academic topics and issues.
KLSW is supervised and supported in its role by the Centre for Academic Development and Quality (ZfQ). ZfQ and HSRW’s Department of Student Affairs participate in sessions in an advisory role.
Elected members of the committee are:
- seven representatives from the professors, whereby each faculty must be represented,
- two representatives from the academic staff,
- two representatives from the non-academic staff,
- two representatives from the students.
The Committee for Developmental Planning and Finances advises the Executive Board, the Senate, the faculties and other teams and areas within the University. Its focus lies on the distribution of available funds within the University as well as on structural/organisational matters of the University, its overall continued development and how it can be adapted to current needs and requirements.
As an advisory committee, KoEFi issues statements (usually addressed to the Senate directly) in order to facilitate and support the Senate’s decision-making processes.
Elected members of the committee are:
- seven representatives from the professors, whereby each faculty must be represented,
- two representatives from the academic staff,
- two representatives from the non-academic staff,
- two representatives from the students.
This committee was established in accordance with the Academic Quality Act of North Rhine-Westphalia [Studiumsqualitätsgesetz], dated 1 March 2011, in order to provide expert advice to decision-makers and continuously improving academic quality at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.
The duties of this committee are derived from Section 4 of the Academic Quality Act. As an oversight committee, its main task is to ensure that funds provided by the Ministry of Culture and Science of NRW are duly put towards academic quality improvement measures. It can also issue recommendations for the allocation of these funds.
Elected members of the committee are:
- two representatives from the professors,
- two representatives from the academic staff,
- six representatives from the students.
The Diversity Committee supports the University in all matters relating to diversity and participation, including anti-discrimination issues. Its responsibilities include:
- organising and implementing (with support from the Vice-President for Diversity) diversity audits and other diversity-related monitoring processes as well as networking with other diversity commissions nationwide vis-à-vis diversity management and campus diversity,
- organising anti-discrimination mechanisms (anti-discrimination guidelines) in close cooperation with the Anti-Discrimination Officer;
- advising responsible bodies on topics such as shifts in social diversity and possible effects for HSRW (in close cooperation with the Equal Opportunities team),
- continuously fine-tuning all diversity-sensitive areas which are relevant for operations at HSRW.
Elected members of the committee are:
- one representative from the professors from among the Senate members,
- four representatives from the professors, one from each faculty,
- two representatives from the academic staff,
- one representative from the non-academic staff,
- two representatives from the students.
For quality development and assurance purposes, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences regularly assesses how well it is performing its duties, particularly academic duties and, more specifically, the success of its students. Evaluations are employed to this end as self-monitoring instruments and are a key element of HSRW’s overall quality management strategy.
Together with the Central Evaluation Team, KEVA advises the Executive Board and the deans of the faculties on the evaluation process as a whole, as well as individual methods and instruments in terms of their effectiveness as decision-making tools, recommending adjustments as needed.
Elected members of the committee are:
- five representatives from the professors, whereby each faculty shall be represented,
- two representatives from the academic staff,
- one representative from the non-academic staff,
- two representatives from the students
