FH Potsdam shines in the equality ranking: place in the TOP 20!

FH Potsdam shines in the equality ranking: place in the TOP 20!

The Potsdam University of Applied Sciences has achieved a notable place among the TOP 20 of 148 universities of applied sciences and universities of applied sciences in the 2025 university ranking for gender equality aspects by the CEWS (Competence Center for Women in Science and Research). With a proportion of women of 43.16 percent in professorships, the Potsdam University of Applied Sciences was able to record considerable success in this ranking City Gazette reported.

In the overall ranking, the university of applied sciences placed itself in group 2 out of a total of 8 groups. This shows the increasing importance of equality issues in the higher education sector. At 33.04 percent, Brandenburg has the second highest proportion of women in professorships in Germany, only Berlin is above this value. In February 2025, the FH Potsdam was also pleased to receive a distinction as part of the 2030 Professor Program.

Ranking methodology and evaluation

The current ranking evaluates a total of 307 universities and is based on data from 2023. The areas assessed include the number of students, doctorates, academic qualifications after the doctorate and academic staff including professorships. Particularly through the cascade model, which looks at the proportion of female students and the proportion of women doing doctorates in relevant subject groups, it offers complex insights into the equality situation. GESIS highlights that the methodology for assigning universities to ranking groups has been fundamentally revised in order to ensure quality assurance for equality at universities.

The CEWS ranking is published every two years and is an important orientation for equality policy at universities. While the FH Potsdam has achieved brilliant results, the global context shows that the issue of equality still presents a number of challenges. A look at other rankings makes it clear that the university landscape in Germany varies greatly from region to region. Berlin and Bremen are clearly in the lead, followed by Hamburg Research and teaching can be removed.

Current trends and challenges

Although gender participation at universities has increased, there are still risks of regression. Between 2001 and 2023, the proportion of women in professorships rose from 11 percent to 29 percent, but the “Leaky Pipeline” shows that the proportion of women decreases with higher career levels. The proportion of doctorates awarded to women also increased from 33 percent to 46 percent over the same period. This makes the clear goals of the CEWS ranking all the more important: to provide incentives for sustainable equality strategies and to maintain momentum.

The results are not only a confirmation of the efforts of the FH Potsdam, but also a signal for other universities to seriously promote equality. The significant variation in the results, from the best universities such as the Hertie School in Berlin to the bottom, clearly shows how much action still needs to be taken in higher education policy. The distinction between the universities also offers opportunities for mutual inspiration and exchange of experiences when it comes to equality.