Active against right-wing extremism and discrimination
BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg takes an active stance against right-wing extremism and discrimination. It is taking a multi-faceted approach, working with partners in the city and region to promote cosmopolitanism, tolerance and a democratic culture.
Basis: action plan against the right
In order to protect university operations from the influence of anti-democratic and extreme right-wing forces, BTU adopted the first "action plan against (extreme) right-wing influence" at a German university at the end of 2022 and also developed specific didactic options for dealing with (extreme) right-wing and discriminatory manifestations for university teaching. It is now opening a monitoring centre for incidents of discrimination and right-wing violence, which also emerged as a measure from the "action plan against right-wing extremism".
"We at BTU, with more than 40 per cent international students and doctoral students, are sensitised to the overall political situation and react to incidents that we describe as extreme right-wing influence. This is not a Cottbus-specific problem, as such incidents are occurring in many places due to the political shift to the right," explains University President Prof. Dr Gesine Grande. "In view of this social development, we feel particularly responsible for our students and employees who are affected by this. Everyone should have equal opportunities for educational success, everyone should feel safe and welcome and be able to find contact persons and counselling in case of doubt."
Objectives and working methods
The new monitoring centre documents all incidents of extreme right-wing influence and discrimination in the university context that are reported to it - be it homophobia, queer and trans hostility or right-wing extremist, racist, sexist, anti-Semitic and other forms of discrimination. It processes the data in anonymised form and prepares it statistically. Once a year, the monitoring centre will publish reports on the incidents. "Evaluating the incidents enables us to analyse the course of the situation and potential dangers more precisely and to develop preventative measures that are tailored to the situation," explains Heike Radvan, who, as a professor of right-wing extremism prevention at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, played a key role in developing the concept for the monitoring centre and the action plan together with her team.
The monitoring centre also provides information about socio-political and ideological contexts. "Because," says Heike Radvan, "further training increases sensitivity in dealing with the problem within the university and strengthens the ability of staff members and students to act. We have had very good experiences with collegial casework, for example." Last but not least, the monitoring centre supports those affected by providing referral advice to the association "Opferperspektive Brandenburg"."Through a customised referral to our partners, people who have experienced right-wing extremism and discrimination receive low-threshold, professional advice and long-term support," explains right-wing extremism expert Radvan.
Monitoring centre: prevention and knowledge generator
The executive committee of BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg decided to set up a monitoring centre to further expand the university's own structures for the prevention of discrimination and to generate the relevant knowledge. The position is therefore affiliated to the Research Centre for (Social) Education and Civil Society Counter-Strategies in Dealing with Right-Wing Extremism (FUR) in the Faculty of Human Sciences. Being anchored in the research centre guarantees professional competence and expertise, as well as the best possible protection of the data collected.
Responsibility and a pioneering role
"With the action plan and the monitoring centre, we are once again assuming responsibility for the university community and urban society. In particular, in times of skills shortages and structural change in the region,we see democratic everyday culture as one of the important factors in further developing our location, enabling innovation and research and remaining open to the world. And we are taking on a pioneering role: several universities - not only in eastern Germany, by the way - are currently developing comparable concepts. We are advising them on this. Our experience will be gratefully received," says BTU President Grande.
The students also welcome the establishment of the monitoring centre: "Cottbus in particular needs a tolerant and cosmopolitan educational bastion, a safe space for our international fellow students, for example, some of whom have already had personal experiences with everyday racism. It is a strong sign that we as a university are actively opposing discrimination of any kind with the Monitoring Centre! The monitoring centre also offers the opportunity to raise awareness anonymously. It can always happen that teachers - even unknowingly - make insensitive or unreflected statements that could be perceived as discriminatory. Very few people dare to reflect this directly back to the professor."
Specialist contacts:
Prof. Dr Heike Radvan
University of Tübingen, Professor of Right-wing Extremism Research with a focus on political and cultural education at the Institute for Right-wing Extremism Research (previously professor at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg)
Email: radvan(at)b-tu.de
Susanne Dyhr
BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg
Research assistant at the Methods and Theories of Social Work chair specialising in community work and right-wing extremism prevention
E-mail: susanne.dyhr(at)b-tu.de
Press contact:
Ilka Seer
BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg
Press Officer and Head of the Corporate Identity Department
E-mail: presse(at)b-tu.de
