Diversity

In order to strengthen the work on gender equality at all levels, the Parity TUM Architecture working group was founded in 2019. Together, we develop goals and strategies for an equal working environment at TUM Architecture and meet regularly for exchange.
Parity TUM Architecture is one of several working groups of the Gender & Diversity division at the TUM School of Engineering and Design (ED).

Parity TUM Architecture is made up of members of the student body, research and administrative staff, women's representatives. It is currently an open platform with no fixed number of members.
Contact us if you are interested in participating: gender.arc@ed.tum.de

The Parity Jour Fixe (PJF) is a platform with the objective to foster a fair, diverse and inclusive work- and research culture at the TUM Department of Architecture. The TUM Architecture Parity working group currently organizes five to six events per academic year. They serve to raise awareness of everyday power relations and inequalities in relation to the distribution of knowledge, funds and visibility in architecture and offer the opportunity to exchange ideas with invited guests and other universities on the topics of equal opportunities, gender equality and diversity. 
All PJF events​​​​​​​

In Germany the distribution of gender at architecture schools has been equal since the 1990s. Today there is more women graduating with a degree in architecture than men. But this distribution is neither being reflected in leading positions of architecture firms nor in professors at universities, where women are still underrepresented. 

Asking the question of why let to the study “Women in Architecture” which combines different research methods to create an overlook of the current situation of female architects. Among other things the authors focused on the question whether there were subject-specific mechanisms of exclusion, that lead to a discrimination of women and a drop-out of female architecture graduates. The quantitative part with Figures, Data, Facts outlines the situation of female architects at universities as well as in the economy. The statistical data is being supplemented by expert interviews. The conversations with 21 professionals that strayed from the traditional architectural career path, so called “drop-outs”, complements the statistic with personal experiences, possible career choices and reviews on the compatibility of family and job.

The study states clearly that there are extensive deficits regarding the topic: many questions regarding gender and architecture remain unanswered and the data availability is insufficient. The aim of the authors is to phrase a research proposal on the grounds of this study, researching the whereabouts of architecture graduates, the compatibility of Care-work and the architecture job as well as the mechanisms of the architectural field.
PDF of the full study

- Gender Studies in Architecture
- Aktuelle Fragestellungen aus Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft

We look forward to your application!

In order to strengthen and convey equality, diversity and inclusion in architecture teaching, two teaching assignments are awarded each semester by the Parity Board at the Department of Architecture of the TUM School of Engineering and Design (ED).
Gender Studies in Architecture (4 SWS/ 6 ECTS) is thematically linked to gender issues,
Aktuelle Fragestellungen aus Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft (Current Issues in Science and Society) (2 SWS/ 3 ECTS) serves to strengthen women in teaching.

Language of instruction: German or English

The teaching assignments for these courses are publicly advertised and are financially and organisationally situated at the TUM School of Engineering and Design (ED).

Please send your application with CV and a short concept outline for the course by e-mail to gender.arc@ed.tum.de

The award is given yearly to student projects by female students of the Department of Architecture at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) that are distinguished by an innovative and interdisciplinary approach to the assignment to be worked on.

Christiane Thalgott retired as an honorary professor at TUM in 2022. From 2023 onwards, the Christiane Thalgott Prize is to be awarded in a different format:
The prize will be patronized by the Parity TUM Architecture working group and organized in cooperation by the current women's representatives and one departmental professorship, and awarded together with Mrs. Thalgott. The professorship involved is always the one whose students won the prize the previous year. The prize money of €500 is funded by the Diversity Office of the ED. The winners are also invited to an interview with Christiane Thalgott. 

The jury consists of Christiane Thalgott, two professors, two representatives of the academic staff, and one woman's representative from the Department of Architecture.

Three factors, in particular, are relevant for the awarding of the prize: "synergies from findings from different fields", "socially relevant topic" and "quality of the work". The results of design projects, as well as theoretical work from supplementary and specialization subjects can be submitted. 

Formal Requirements: 

• Prize is open to female students only
• Work from the past academic year
• Project must have been conducted at TUM (BA or MA level)

Nominations as self-application by female students to gender.arc(at)ed.tum.de - the following must be submitted:

• One A3 page as an overview (PDF) with a short summary of the task as well as a short description of the project including the interdisciplinary approach of the socially relevant topics addressed in the work
• Original work in PDF format (reduced file size)

Please note: Submission by e-mail only, no data transfer via file hosting (wetransfer, etc.).

Annual application deadline: 15 August