On November 12, 2026, the project “Intersektionale Perspektiven auf Machtmissbrauch und Fehlverhalten an Hochschulen (IPaM)”, looking at Lower Saxony universities, kicks off in Lüneburg, Germany. Head of the Research Careers Campus, Johanna Stadlbauer, will take up a role in the project's advisory board.
Background from the project website:
“To date, there is very little cross-institutional evidence on how gender equality initiatives, ombuds services, and other support structures interact and are effective in addressing abuse of power. The central research question of the project is: How can universities in Lower Saxony further develop their approach to addressing abuse of power and misconduct from an intersectional equity perspective? “Addressing” here refers to concrete prevention and intervention strategies that a university needs to counter abuse of power both structurally and culturally. The project therefore examines the procedural, organizational, and cultural prerequisites necessary to achieve this. The integration of intersectional gender equality work, ombuds services, and institutional development provides the foundation for practical recommendations for action.”
Project Duration: May 1, 2026 – expected May 30, 2028. It is headed by Kathrin van Riesen (Head of the Office for Gender Equality, Leuphana University of Lüneburg), and coordinated by Ayla Schwartkop, M.A. (Staff Member, Office for Gender Equality, Leuphana University of Lüneburg).
The advisory board will support the project with academic, higher education policy, and practical expertise. It will serve as a forum for exchanging diverse perspectives and for critically reflecting on the results. The project is being carried out by the Office for Gender Equality at Leuphana University Lüneburg in cooperation with lakog Lower Saxony. The Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture is funding the project.
