Campaign HOCHSCHULEN ZEIGEN HALTUNG

20 October 2025, by Stabsstelle Chancengerechtigkeit

Photo: UHH/HOCHSCHULEN ZEIGEN HALTUNG

The Equity Unit supports the nationwide campaign HOCHSCHULEN ZEIGEN HALTUNG (Universities Take a Stand) for a welcoming, cohesive, and free university culture against anti-democratic influences and attacks.

The campaign was launched in October 2025 as a joint initiative of various networks, including the antidiscrimination in higher education network (Netzwerk Antidiskriminierung an Hochschulen ), the diversity in higher education network (Netzwerk Diversity an Hochschulen), and the federal conference of women’s and gender equality officers at universities (Bundeskonferenz der Frauen- und Gleichstellungsbeauftragten an Hochschulen, bukof). 

Aims of the campaign:

With this campaign, we want to take a joint stand for a welcoming, cohesive, and free university culture and draw attention to the anti-democratic influences and attacks to which actors at universities are already exposed.
The campaign is intended to convey a clear statement and commitment to core democratic values and to raise awareness of how the latest political events threaten our democratic and cohesive university culture.

Background to the campaign:
Freedom of research and teaching is a central pillar of our democracy. Universities are places of free exchange, scientific curiosity and critical thinking.

The rise of right-wing populist and extreme right-wing parties, which call for far-reaching interventions in scientific content in their election manifestos, poses a threat to academic freedom. While these parties exert targeted pressure on research and teaching, publicly questioning the scientific findings of researchers, especially those who are politically or socially engaged, and deliberately defaming university staff, certain measures such as restrictions on gender-neutral language or cuts to funding programmes are also contributing to a creeping restriction of academic work and an erosion of academic freedom. As a result, universities are increasingly finding themselves in an environment in which free academic development is being undermined both openly and indirectly.

These developments affect all members of every university and university policy committees. Universities thrive on diversity, openness and critical exchange. When these values are threatened, we must act together.

Further information on the campaign and the individual demands (PDF) (german only)