FH Potsdam shines in equality ranking: space below the top 20!

FH Potsdam shines in equality ranking: space below the top 20!

Potsdam, Deutschland - The University of Applied Sciences Potsdam has achieved a considerable place in the university ranking according to equality aspects 2025 of the CEWs (competence center women in science and research) among the top 20 of 148 universities of applied sciences and universities for applied sciences. With a proportion of women of 43.16 percent of the professorships, the Potsdam University of Applied Sciences was able to record considerable success in this ranking, such as Stadtblatt reported.

In the overall ranking, the university of applied sciences has positioned itself in rank group 2 of a total of 8 groups. This shows the increasing importance of equality issues in the university landscape. With 33.04 percent, Brandenburg has the second highest proportion of women in professorships in Germany, only Berlin is still above this value. In February 2025, the FH Potsdam was also able to look forward to a predicate award 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 assessed areas include the number of students, promotions, the scientific qualification according to the doctorate and the scientific staff, including the professorships. Especially through the cascade model, which looks at the proportion of students and the proportion of women in promotional subject groups, it offers complex insights into the equality situation. GESIS emphasizes that the methodology for assigning the universities in ranking groups was fundamentally revised to ensure quality assurance for equality at universities.

The CEWS ranking appears every two years and is an important orientation for equality policy at universities. While the FH Potsdam has achieved brilliant results, it turns out in the global context that the topic of equality still has some challenges. A look at other rankings makes it clear that the university landscape in Germany is very different. Berlin and Bremen lead clear top positions, followed by Hamburg, what Research and teaching

Current trends and challenges

The participation of the gender at universities has increased, but it does not fail to get out again. Between 2001 and 2023, the proportion of women rose from 11 percent to 29 percent in professorships, but the "Leaky Pipeline" shows that the proportion of women decreases with higher career levels. The proportion of promotions of women has also increased from 33 percent to 46 percent in the same period. All the more important are the clear goals of the CEWS ranking to set incentives for sustainable equality strategies and maintain the dynamics.

The results are not only a confirmation of the efforts of the Potsdam University of Applied Sciences, but also a signal for other universities, to promote equality. The significant variation in the results, from the best universities such as the Hertie School in Berlin to the final lights, impressively shows how much need to act in university policy. The distinction between the universities also offers opportunities for mutual inspiration and exchange of experiences in terms of equality.