The Hertie School is excited to inform students about the support and resources our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Office has to offer. The DEI Office is committed to helping students of all backgrounds make the most of their time at the Hertie School and ensuring that they can thrive academically. Read on to hear from the DEI team, Dr. Susann Park-Gessner and Katalin Karsai.
Q: Hi! Can you briefly introduce yourselves and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Office at Hertie?
A: We are Dr. Susann Park-Gessner, Director of Quality Management (QM) and DEI, and Katalin Karsai, Hertie´s DEI Officer. Our Office was established in 2021 and is part of the Office of the President. We serve the entire school community, students, teaching staff and our administration. We liaise with our student representatives and groups, run projects such as the implementation of our DEI Strategy, the Gender Equality Plan or the Hertie School Mentoring Programme for first-generation students. We also organize diversity-related events and trainings and provide advice and assistance to students and employees with disabilities.
Q: How can the DEI Office support neurodivergent students and students with disabilities?
Susann: Our office serves as the first point of contact for all members of our community and for incoming students on questions and issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Katalin: In my role as DEI Officer, I provide advice and support to students with disabilities and neurodivergent students and help with navigating internal procedures and resources. Our academic counsellor, Maria Vang Uttenthal, provides advice regarding study planning and academic challenges. For learning accommodations, I help map the process and applications need to be filed with the Examination Office.
Q: What is the best way for students to reach out for support and accommodations? At what stage in their admissions process should they get in touch?
A: We encourage every incoming student to get in contact as early as possible. We can then provide the best possible help in preparing for a successful start to their studies in a personal meeting or via video call. It is particularly important and helpful to contact the Examination Office in good time if students wish to apply for longer-term study or examination adjustments, as these applications can take some time to process.
Q: Do you run any special activities or programmes?
A: We have built a specific programme to help first-generation students. The 1st Generation Mentoring Programme focuses on academic and study support, and personal orientation for masters´ programme participants who might face specific and invisible challenges. Our faculty and researchers pair up with first-year students who are the first in their family to pursue a university degree to advise them throughout the start of their studies. A call for participation is sent at the beginning of every academic year. This programme is one of many mentoring programmes the school offers.
Q: Is there anything else you wish students knew about the DEI office at Hertie?
A: Absolutely! A key priority is promoting a culture of mutual respect, support, understanding, fairness and equal treatment. The DEI Officer supports members of our community to settle possible conflicts and serves as a complaints body in cases of misconduct to ensure an inclusive and safe study environment.
For any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Susann and Katalin in the DEI Office. They would be happy to hear from you!
Additional resources:
Diversity, equity and inclusion at the Hertie School
Diversity, equity and inclusion information on Moodle
Learning accommodations information on Moodle
Blog authors
Sarah Fisher, Associate Student Recruitment
Nicole Norr, Intern Student Recruitment
The DEI Team
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Susann Park-Gessner, Director Quality Management and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
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Katalin Karsai, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer/Manager