ZEW Mannheim Distinguished for Commitment to Equal Opportunities and Diversity
AwardsTOTAL E-QUALITY award presented for the fourth time
Once again in 2024, ZEW Mannheim has received the TOTAL E-QUALITY award. This prize recognises the institute as an employer that promotes equal opportunity, diversity, work-life balance and gender equality.
“Diversity is an essential success factor for excellent research and long-term competitiveness. At ZEW, we focus specifically on equal opportunity, especially by supporting women – from recruitment and career development to a better work-life balance. Receiving the TOTAL E-QUALITY award once again confirms our strategic approach and encourages us to further optimise our standards and strengthen the role of diversity as a key resource,” explains ZEW Managing Director Claudia von Schuttenbach.
The promotion and integration of diversity beyond minimum legal requirements has been ZEW’s modus operandi for many years. In particular, the compatibility of work and family life, personnel development that promotes equality, and avoiding disadvantages or discrimination in the workplace are key issues that are regularly discussed. “ZEW has been awarded the TOTAL E-QUALITY award for the years 2024 to 2026, receiving this honour for the fourth time. ZEW earned this award through exemplary actions in organisational and personnel policies with a focus on equal opportunity,” said a statement from the jury who presented the current award.
To implement and actively promote these goals, ZEW regularly appoints an Equal Opportunities Officer, a Diversity Officer and, since 2023, an Inclusion Officer. In addition, there is a wide range of support and development opportunities for female researchers (e.g. AkadeMIA program, Leibniz Mentoring).
Commitment to more women in research and management
The jury of TOTAL E-QUALITY Deutschland e. V. emphasises ZEW’s new recruitment guidelines and the targeted approach to women in job advertisements. The jury also praised the increase in the proportion of women in research and at the management level: “By anchoring women's and gender studies in ZEW publications and projects, the institute is making its contribution to further development in the research field of equal opportunity and promoting the transfer of knowledge to the general public.”
About TOTAL E-QUALITY
The association TOTAL E-QUALITY Deutschland e. V. pursues the goal of establishing and sustainably ensuring equal opportunities and honours organisations’ active commitment to these values. ZEW was awarded the title for the first time in 2015. This year, 60 organisations and associations received the prize.
