University initiative at Kehl aims to develop strategies for enhancing diversity among administrative departments
The University of Public Administration Kehl is spearheading a project named "Diversity@BW" to make public administration more intercultural and to make diversity a norm in career paths and communities. This initiative aims to investigate and develop data-based measures to increase the proportion of students with a migration history in the public service.
The study, conducted among students, reveals that 22 percent of students at the University of Kehl have a migration background, according to the definition of the Federal Statistical Office. This proportion is higher than previously assumed and corresponds to the proportion of students with a migration background at other universities. However, it's important to note that the values cannot be compared directly due to different questionnaires.
Among students with a migration background, 18.3 percent reported having had discriminatory experiences in the communities. This trend is rising, but sociologist Lena Steinel notes that the student body has also changed.
The most important motivation for students with a migration background to study administrative sciences is the later secure job and framework conditions. The average motivation score for prospective benefits is 3.84, and for the later framework conditions, it is 4.45. Interestingly, students without a migration background often have relatives who are or were active in the public service.
The university conducted surveys among students to gain insights into the living realities of students with a migration background, and received a high response rate of 75 percent. One student interviewed by the university's team mentioned feeling apprehensive about joining a new group due to assumptions about his migration background, but found it to be irrelevant.
The Ministry of Integration supports the project "Diversity@bw" at the Kehl University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration. While similar initiatives aimed at intercultural opening of administration are still rare in Germany, several related intercultural and integration initiatives exist at the federal level, in various German states, and in universities.
For instance, the University of Passau runs an intercultural generation café that fosters intercultural exchange among students, scientists, and local citizens. There are also initiatives focusing on language acquisition for migrant workers combined with partnerships of employers, trade unions, and governmental bodies like the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), promoting systemic intercultural integration approaches.
Other programs like the German Fulbright Summer Institute promote immersive intercultural exchange among students nationwide, which helps prepare migrants and non-migrants for intercultural communication in public and private sectors.
Though not strictly framed as public administration opening programs, these and similar initiatives across states contribute to increasing intercultural dialogue, integration, and representation opportunities. If looking for specific state projects solely focused on public administration diversity, further targeted research is recommended as these efforts may be managed locally or through ministries of interior and integration in each state, often under federal diversity strategies.
In summary, the University of Public Administration Kehl's project "Diversity@BW" is a significant step towards making public administration more intercultural and diverse. While direct parallels exist primarily in programs fostering intercultural competence and migration background representation in education and labor, many German states are engaging in intercultural opening efforts with components relevant to public service representation.
- The University of Public Administration Kehl's project "Diversity@BW" also aims to foster diversity in the business sector, as demonstrated by the university's collaboration with the Ministry of Integration.
- The project's insights into the living realities of students with a migration background can contribute to the development of diversity and inclusion methods in education-and-self-development programs, such as the German Fulbright Summer Institute.
- To ensure personal-growth opportunities for students, it's essential to expand this work beyond public administration, promoting intercultural understanding and diversity in various career paths, creating a diverse and inclusive business landscape.
