Collaboration “Dessau-Rosslau lives global openness and diversity” nominated for the German Demography Award from over 70 projects | Umweltbundesamt

The collaboration “Dessau-Rosslau lives global openness and diversity" does this by further developing the city of Dessau-Rosslau in a diversity-sensitive manner. To this end, training courses on anti-discrimination, plain language and diversity-sensitive administration have been offered to employees since 2021. A diversity tour of the administrative buildings is offered especially for trainees. For example, they experience spatial barriers in an ageing suit and develop ideas on how these can be removed by property management. The partnership has now been nominated for the award for this commitment.

UBA ⁠President Dirk Messner commented: “The nomination for our collaboration with the city and the university shows that we are on the right track with our activities to strengthen diversity. We will continue this approach!” Promoting openness to the world and diversity is an important task, especially in times of growing populism and right-wing extremist ideas. “We must all realise that without skilled workers from abroad and a modern and service-oriented administration that responds to the needs of our citizens, our economy will not be able to meet the challenges of demographic change. It is therefore only logical that we train the employees of our administrations to improve their diversity skills. This is where successful integration and inclusion begins and sends a positive signal to local companies,” says Mayor Dr Robert Reck. University President Jörg Bagdahn also highlights the importance of international students: “More than half of our students come from abroad. Our study programme not only enriches the entire university, but also allows business, science and culture to work closely together in Dessau. Together with a network of companies and institutions, we support students before and during their studies in order to prepare them specifically for starting their careers in Saxony-Anhalt.”

The collaboration between the three administrative sites in Dessau-Roßlau was nominated for the final round in Berlin along with two other applicants. The jury ultimately decided in favour of Ed. ZÜBLIN AG – Subdivision East with the project “We build with diversity”, which we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate.

The nomination alone shows that we are on the right track in Dessau-Rosslau and that the existing cooperation must be expanded in order to continue to gain appeal. The project partners have emerged from the nomination stronger and with new motivation and are in the process of implementing further programmes and projects.