Embeddedness at FAU

Whilst striving for excellence in research and teaching and meeting its social responsibilities, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) systematically promotes striking a balance between research, studying, work and family life. All members of the University ought to be able to balance their academic career, studying and working with their role within the family. The guiding principle is implementing equal opportunities on all qualification and career levels for all members of the University irrespective of their personal situation or family background. Ensuring a family-friendly environment and encouraging diversity management is understood as a cross-sectional task at all levels of planning and decision-making.

Family in this respect refers to people living together and taking on long-term social responsibility in the broadest sense. The focus of family duties lies on caring for children or other relatives.

From 2008 to 2017, FAU successfully completed the “audit familiengerechte Hochschule” process three times and was officially certified a family-friendly employer. Within this context, FAU also drafted the “Code of conduct – family-friendly FAU” to provide guidance. FAU’s dedication to issues of family policy is underlined by its signing the charter “Familie in der Hochschule” in September 2016, entering the best practice club with the same name, and acting as a founding member of the relevant association.

The Family Service has been part of the new Referat P7 “HR Development and Family Service” in the University Administration since March 2020.