Diversity and equal opportunities

Diversity means variety and variety requires individuality.

The FHNW School of Life Sciences is committed not only to offering innovative, forward-looking teaching, but also to embracing as an opportunity the diversity of its students and staff, their backgrounds, perspectives and talents. Gender- and diversity-oriented surveys identify action areas, integrate activities, and develop options for students and staff.

The School of Life Sciences, together with the other eight FHNW Schools, is actively involved in several projects to examine and implement diversity from a wide range of perspectives. Further information here.

Within the framework of the equality mandate, projects and actions are launched to promote opportunities and career development for women in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

Partner firms in the region contribute to this, encouraging women to pursue careers in STEM fields at an early stage, and using one-day visits to initiate an exchange of ideas and provide insights into professional fields.

Equally successful are lectures and workshops where female professionals in science and technology describe their career paths and share their experiences as "role models" with young people.

Another way to counteract skills shortages and demographic change, not to mention generate more interest among young women in STEM professions, are the special "Girls-Technology-Go" and "Girls-Computer-Science-Go" programmes. To this end the School of Life Sciences participates in the annual National Future Day to introduce the world of technical and scientific careers to the next generation.

Since 2021, an annual 3-day STEM summer camp has been held on the FHNW campus in Muttenz for children from 8-12 who are interested in science and technology. Three FHNW Schools (Life Sciences; Engineering; Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geomatics) organize exciting activities on various STEM topics.

For staff of the School of Life Sciences, training and development opportunities are available through targeted workshops on topics such as presentation skills, intercultural communication, organization and self-management.

Thanks to its location in the tri-national Basel region, and given the international research fields it operates in, for the School of Life Sciences a broad spectrum of national origins among staff and students is already a lived reality. In addition, we have an extensive network of partner universities in Europe and beyond with regular staff and student exchanges in both directions. Many of our alumni have started or boosted their careers thanks to these opportunities to gain international experience and there are frequent joint research projects between the School of Life Sciences and its partners around the world. 

Students at the School of Life Sciences can apply for compensation for disadvantages. The aim is to take appropriate measures to reduce or eliminate disadvantages resulting from disabilities and chronic illnesses. The term refers to adapting the conditions under which learning and/or examinations take place, but does cover modification of learning objectives or dispensation from subjects.

Students and participants in continuing education programs must apply for compensation for disadvantages to the HLS Equal Opportunities & Diversity office by the admission application deadline. Applications can also be made during the course of study or during continuing education:

• Spring semester: by the end of calendar week 12
• Autumn semester: by the end of calendar week 42

Submitting the required documents in time enables evaluation of compensation for disadvantages for the next examination session.

Information sheet on compensation for disadvantages FHNW School of Life Sciences (PDF)