How do individual persons and new (digital) strategies fit together? How can organisations and companies make diversity a success factor and at the same time satisfy the needs and requirements of diverse employees? Is it possible to have more equal opportunities and more profit? These and other significant questions were analysed in the conference with experts from different branches.

The DIVERSITY has been organised since 2012. Each year, we have a different main emphasis. It is important for us that all dimensions of diversity are taken into consideration: Age, gender, sexual orientation and identity, religion and worldview, physical and mental ability and ethnic origin and nationality. This year´s conference was held in German language, but offered a simultaneous translation in English for the plenum program during the conference and a live-stream in English – the live-stream can soon be found on our homepage and in our Youtube-channel.

One specific topic which was focused on was “social background”. The income of parents and their level of education influence the educational chances of children. Therefore, not only in Germany the social background of persons is strongly interlinked with their educational success and chances of professional advancement. This opens up questions regarding the world of work, for example if the respective corporate culture excludes employees because of their social background or how companies and organisations can reach persons of different social backgrounds. Creative projects and remarkable partners can be helpful to bring together people with different social backgrounds. At this year´s conference, we had the sessions “Social background: The forgotten dimension in the working world?” and “Crossing borders – values as connective”. Since these issues are that significant, we from the German Diversity Charter are thinking about including “social background” as the seventh dimension of diversity. This would add even more importance to the subject.

Coming together with people from different branches and contexts generates more innovative and creative ideas - we are pleased about the discussions and stimulations during the Conference DIVERSITY!

Website: www.diversity-konferenz.de

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